The Real Madrid player Christiano Ronaldo said that he thinks that Barcelona's striker Lionel Messi would be the most appropriate person in Europe who could be his successor to the Golden Ball award. “Messi is the favourite,” Ronaldo said. “Why not him? If he wins it, it will be well deserved.” The players that are nominated for the Golden Ball awards are Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Thierry Henry, Andres Iniesta, Yaya Toure and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.  “To win a trophy like this, you need to have won collective trophies, a league title, the Champions League. That’s why many players from Barcelona could win it.” said Ronaldo.