Ronaldo aiming to boot Ballon d'Or jinx

Portugal star could be first winner to parlay award into World Cup success

When Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded last year's Ballon d'Or in recognition of his dazzling achievements over the course of 2013, he naturally had plenty of reason to celebrate - although one could forgive him for feeling apprehensive about his country's hopes at the World Cup in Brazil.

Portugal will go the tournament as an underdog heavily reliant on their captain and talisman Ronaldo, who will need to defy the odds if he is to avoid becoming another footnote in a cautionary tale.