Gareth Bale is backing Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo for the Ballon d'Or.
The 28-year-old, who has scored five hat-tricks this season, has replaced Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery as the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or, and Bale feels his team-mate deserves the prize.
Bale told The Independent: "For me, he is the best player in the world and I don't think anyone is near him. He deserves that award.
"The goals and the performances he has put in, especially when you think of the pressure he is under, for Portugal the other day, it shows what a true, true world-class player he is."
