By Daily Sports on October 22, 2016

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez says he has no chance of winning the Ballon d’Or this year because he does not have the marketing required to be named football’s best player.

Suarez, 29, picked up the European Golden Shoe on Thursday for his 40 league goals last season and is in the running, along with Barca teammate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, to win the Ballon d’Or, which France Football will hand out in December.

Nobody other than Messi or Ronaldo has won the prize since Kaka in 2007, and Suarez, who helped Barca win the La Liga title and Copa del Rey last term, is adamant that he is not the player to wrestle it away from the duo.

“The Ballon d’Or is more to do with marketing and press than for achievements on the pitch,” he told reporters after being handed the European Golden Shoe. “I’ve earned all the awards I’ve been given. The Golden Shoe is for scoring the most goals and there’s no option for people to take that away from me.

“I don’t have a chance [with] the Ballon d’Or because it works around marketing and I don’t have that. My ambition is to win another Champions League, that would be great.”

The Uruguay international added that, aside from the marketing aspect, it is also difficult to win the prize when there is a player like Messi also in the running.

“Of course,” he said when asked if the Argentine’s presence also complicates matters. “But I was referring to getting on the podium. To win it is impossible because I have the privilege of playing with the best in the world and an excellent person. He’s the best in history.”

While no one has been able to get ahead of Messi and Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or reckoning since 2007, Suarez has twice broken their dominance of the European Golden Shoe.

The former Liverpool striker, however, does not want to be compared with either Messi or Ronaldo.

“I don’t compare myself with anyone,” he said. “I have my way of playing and being, which is different. My way is to help the team. If individual awards come they’re welcome because I’m a goal scorer and, sometimes, egotistic. But your teammates don’t let you [get carried away] and that’s something you’re most grateful about.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Luis Suaez

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 22, 2016

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