Former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has revealed who he believes should win this year's prestigious Ballon d'Or.
France Football's award ceremony will take place on December 3rd this year in Paris, with Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi believed to be the three favourites for the award.
Neville ran a Q&A on his Twitter account yesterday, but when asked by a fan "who deserves the Ballon d'Or this time?" Neville replied: "Ramos."
While Sergio Ramos was certainly integral to Real Madrid's Champions League win this year, his standing to win this year's award is probably a fair way down the list. The last defender to win was Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
Social media users have suggested that Neville's answer was more of a bait reply to deliberately antagonise Liverpool fans.
Ramos outraged Liverpool fans for his actions during the Champions League final, in which he tangled with Mo Salah, injuring him and forcing him off after 31 minutes. He was also accused of elbowing goalkeeper Loris Karius in the head, causing his concussion.
Luka Modric looks best set to claim the award, following being named the Best FIFA Men's Player and winner of the Golden Ball from this summer's World Cup.
At the FIFA Best awards ceremony, Ramos said that Modric deserves to win the Ballon d'Or.
"Looking at the level of the players you could give the Ballon d'Or to Messi, Cris or Luka, all of them would be just winners," Ramos said (via Marca).
"When it was given to Messi it could also have been given to Andres Iniesta or Xavi and so I would give it to Modric."
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have notoriously shared the award five times each in the last decade.
Will we finally see a new Ballon d'Or winner crowned for the first time since 2008?
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Words by George Buksmann.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Football News, Football, Manchester United, Sky Sports, Gary Neville