DROGBA: TRUE LEADER RONALDO DESERVES BALLON D'OR

Didier Drogba believes that Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win a fourth Ballon d'Or this year due to the success that he has enjoyed with Real Madrid and Portugal.

The 31-year-old ended an impressive campaign with a Champions League crown with Madrid before going on to win Euro 2016 with the national team - their first-ever major international title.

The forward is the favourite to be crowned the player of the year for 2016 as a result of his fine performances, with even Barcelona star Neymar admitting that he is the likely winner.

And Drogba, who currently plays in MLS with Canadian side Montreal Impact, feels that Ronaldo has shown himself to be a good leader and hopes that he wins the prize for a fourth time.

"I played against Cristiano in the Champions League final in 2008; he won with Manchester United against Chelsea," Drogba told AS.

"He is a true leader and he deserves the Ballon d'Or for the great work he has done for Real Madrid and Portugal. Although he could not play the whole Euro 2016 final, he was the biggest reason that his team got there."