Five-time Ballon d`Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo said Saturday the individual honour should be awarded to a player who won the Champions League.

Speaking ahead of Sunday`s Nations League final in Munich between Portugal and Spain, the veteran said "trophies" should determine who wins the Ballon d`Or.

"In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d`Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League," the 40-year-old forward told reporters.

First awarded in 1956 by French magazine France Football, the Ballon d`Or is awarded to the player considered the best over the previous season.

Paris Saint-Germain`s 5-0 thumping of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last Saturday led to growing calls for Ousmane Dembele to win this season`s gong.

Spain starlet Lamine Yamal`s superb display in Thursday`s 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France however had some arguing the teenager should be awarded the Ballon d`Or, which would make the 17-year-old the youngest winner in its history.

France coach Didier Deschamps backed Dembele for the award, saying "considering the season Ousmane is having, he deserves it and that`s all I wish for him".
At a press conference in Stuttgart on Saturday, France captain Kylian Mbappe told reporters he backed Dembele.

"Does anyone really need me to explain? Right now we`re talking about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele, but I`m voting for Dembele."

Ronaldo said he "cannot tell you who deserves it" this season.

Ronaldo`s five wins is bettered only by Argentinian Lionel Messi, who has won the award eight times.

The duo had a monopoly on the award for a decade from Ronaldo`s first win in 2008 to his last in 2017.

The current holder is Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
(Source: BSS)