Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 7y

Cristiano Ronaldo deserves Ballon d'Or despite slow start - Zinedine Zidane

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said that Cristiano Ronaldo "clearly" deserves to win the 2016 Ballon d'Or despite an underwhelming start to the 2016-17 season.

Ronaldo was firm favourite for a fourth career Ballon d'Or award after 51 goals in 2015-16 and his club Madrid winning the Champions League last May.

The Portugal captain further cemented his case by lifting the Euro 2016 trophy in June after scoring three times in the competition before leaving the final early due to a knee injury.

However a below-par beginning to the new season has seen the 31-year-old score just four times in nine Madrid games this season, while potential challenger Lionel Messi has returned to form with 14 goals in 11 appearances for Barcelona.

Zidane, the 1998 Ballon d'Or winner and three time FIFA World Footballer of the Year, told a news conference that looking over the year as a whole, there was only one possible victor for 2016.

"I know how this works, above all it is for the whole year," Zidane said. "In 2016, look what [Ronaldo] has done, not just on individual level, but above all on the team level. He knows perfectly well that all this comes from his work, and the work of those players around him. He deserves the Ballon d'Or, clearly."

Ronaldo looked upset with his own performance after taking 11 shots on goal without scoring during last weekend's 2-1 La Liga win at home to Athletic Bilbao, but Zidane said the superstar was not getting anxious about the situation or the media debate around his form.

"Cristiano can be angry when he doesn't score, but that's normal," he said. "He wants to score. But he is not anxious or worried. What Cristiano has done, and is doing, is unique.

"He has set the bar so high that every time he does not score [there is debate]. He must live with these things. That is what the phenomenons get, and he is a phenomenon."

La Liga leaders Madrid travel to Alaves on Saturday with the Basque side 13th in the table, unbeaten at home on their return to the Primera Division this season, and having already won 2-1 at Barcelona and drawn 1-1 at Atletico Madrid.

"I expect a very difficult game," Zidane said. "They are unbeaten at home, and are doing really well. We know how difficult it will be.

"The players know that if we want something at the end of the season, we must be right for every game. If we think that tomorrow will be an easy win, that would be a mistake. But we are focused on what we need to do, after a good week."

Asked about Alaves midfielder Marcos Llorente, on loan from the season from Madrid, saying he is annoyed at not being allowed to face his "parent club," Zidane dodged the issue.

"That is a club matter," he said. "Nothing to do with me as the coach, I'm just focused on tomorrow's game. He is playing for them, I watch him a lot, and I'm happy for him."

The former France international gave little away when asked if any of currently injured Sergio Ramos, Casemiro or Luka Modric might be able to join up with their countries in the next international break.

"I cannot say anything on that yet," Zidane said. "The three have been back out on the pitch -- Luka more than the others, but he has still not trained with us. They are all doing well, but we must have patience. We will see next week, before the international break, how things are going."

Zidane was happier to praise the hard work of winger Lucas Vazquez, who has signed a new contract with Madrid until 2021.

"It has not been easy for him, as he was here in the youth system, went away, and then returned," Zidane said. "Now he is doing phenomenally well. It is a lovely story, for him, and for the madridistas who love these type of people -- good guys, hard workers.

"It is all deserved. Maybe there are other players who have more talent, but he has earned this by battling and sweating, and I am delighted for him."

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