Football
9y

Diego Maradona picks Manuel Neuer for Ballon d'Or

HAVANA -- Argentine legend Diego Maradona said that he believes Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer should beat out Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or, which will be presented on Jan. 12 during an awards ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.

"Neither Messi, nor Ronaldo, my favourite is Neuer, he's the one who deserves it the most," said the outspoken former star player and coach during a visit to Cuba.

Maradona arrived in the island nation on Monday to tape the first two episodes of the second season of "De Zurda," a football show for Venezuelan television station Telesur.

Maradona told Radio Habana Cuba: "Ronaldo and Messi were resting" during the last year while Neuer was winning the World Cup with Germany.

Title-holder and twice winner Ronaldo, four-time winner Messi and Neuer have been included on the final shortlist to win the Ballon d'Or.

Maradona, 54, is expected to spend a week in Cuba, during which time he said he may visit the country's former leader Fidel Castro.

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