Santos coach Muricy Ramalho has slammed the selection process of FIFA’s Ballon D’Or, stating that it is tainted by politics.
The coach believes that the 23-man shortlist is overkill and that there is too much politics involved: “There are 23 players, I don’t think that includes all of the best players. Sometimes it is political overkill, attempting to appeal to smaller countries. It has to be the best players, and sometimes they are not there.”
Ramalho expressed his dismay that Neymar has never come close to winning the prize, coming tenth last year, although he believes he will not win this year: “In my opinion, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Iniesta are the best, in that order.”
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is the favourite to win the Ballon D’Or for the fourth successive year, which would be an unpredecented feat.
Fifa will announce the three finalists on November 29 and the winner will be unveiled in at a ceremony on January 7.
