Ronaldo 'confident' of another Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo on Monday said he feels confident of winning a fourth Ballon d'Or title after a stellar year that saw Portugal humble France at Euro 2016.

The 31-year-old Real Madrid striker said in an interview published in France Football that Les Bleus "thought they were going to easily win" and "smiled a lot" before the final in Stade de France last July.

But the ultimate prize went to Portugal, which won its first international trophy following a match which was also the scene of "the greatest sadness" of three-time world player of the year Ronaldo's career.

He left the pitch in tears, forced off with a knee injury in the first half.

"I couldn't bend my leg ... It wasn't going to be the final that I dreamed of, I could no longer play," he recalled.

The Portuguese soccer federation on Friday published a video in which the international captain, barechested in the dressing room, thanked coach Fernando Santos, his teammates and staff for "the happiest moment of my life."

The France Football interview is headlined "Griezmann told me: 'I hate you'" without the weekly magazine revealing further details before it hit the stands.

Concerning his bid for a fourth world player of the year title, Ronaldo said he felt "rather confident and relaxed" after what he called the best season of his career, in which he also won the Champions League with Real Madrid.

Ronaldo - Ballon d'Or winner in 2008, 2013 and 2014 - is the overwhelming favorite to reclaim the award in January after finishing as top scorer in the Champions League with 16 goals, as well as his Euro 2016 title.

His main rivals are Barcelona stars Lionel Messi and Neymar.

(China Daily 11/23/2016 page22)