Ballon d’Or 2017: Cristiano Ronaldo opens up on battle with Lionel Messi and Neymar

The Real Madrid forward scooped his fifth accolade at a star-studded ceremony in Paris on Thursday night.

And that put him level with Barcelona ace Messi, who he’s fought it out with in La Liga since moving to the Bernabeu from Manchester United in 2009.

Ronaldo and Messi’s battle has long been talked up as being between the two best players in football history.

And Ronaldo has now revealed he’s got no intention of dropping out of it anytime soon.

“I hope to play at this level for a few more years,” said the Portugal international. 

“I hope the battle with Messi continues, things happen for a reason. 

“I feel good this season and we’ll see what we win at the end of the year.”

Ronaldo also backed Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar to fight for the Ballon d’Or in years to come. 

“Neymar has a lot of talent, a lot of potential, and I’m sure he’ll have some chance to win in the future,” he added.

Ronaldo and Messi will go head-to-head when El Clasico rolls around on Saturday December 23.