d'Or despite his trophy success in 2016, according
to Barcelona legend Xavi.
The Real Madrid forward won the prize for the
fourth time on Monday after he received more than
double the voting points of Barca superstar Lionel
Messi, who came second.
Ronaldo described last season as the best of his
career after he won the Champions League with
Madrid and Euro 2016 with Portugal, having
become the Spanish club's all-time top
goalscorer in October 2015.
Xavi, however, feels it was wrong to award the
prize to a player based on the titles he has won,
rather than his individual quality.
"They counted the major trophies but there are
other years in which they didn't use that to award
the best player in the world," he told TV3.
"Leo Messi is the best despite the trophies that
someone else might have won."
Xavi sparked something of a squabble with
Ronaldo when he remarked in September that
Messi is the best player in the world "for anyone
who likes football".
Ronaldo responded by saying: "Everyone knows
that anyone who wants to make the front pages
has to talk about me. Xavi has not won a single
Ballon d'Or. I have won three."
The 31-year-old is expected to start for Madrid on
Thursday in their Club World Cup semi-final
against America.
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