Maurizio Sarri thinks Cristiano Ronaldo will win the Ballon d’Or on Monday

Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri believes that Cristiano Ronaldo, who is back from a knee injury deserves to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday.

Ronaldo is up against fellow five-time winner Lionel Messi and Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk in the running for this year’s gong, while Juve defender Matthijs de Ligt is in contention to win the Kopa Trophy awarded to the best performing player under the age of 21.

“Cristiano did well in the last game, even with some resistance,” the coach told reporters. “Now he just has to grow in terms of brilliance. I hope that Cristiano wins the Ballon d’Or, de Ligt the Kopa Trophy and that Dybala will one day be a future Ballon d’Or contender.”

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READ: Ronaldo dismisses talk of winning another Ballon d’Or