Former Real Madrid boss, Fabio Capello has said that although Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win this year’s Balloon d’Or, he is not at the same level with Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

The Real Madrid ace is the favourite to bag this year’s award after leading Portugal to Euro Glory earlier this year in France and playing a pivotal role in helping the Los Blancos win their eleventh UEFA Champions League. However, Capello, who managed the Spanish outfit in 1995-96 and 2006-07 seasons, said that there is absolutely no debate when it comes to comparing the genius of Ronaldo and Messi as the Argentina international is on an another level.

“Yes, certainly he’s my favourite for the year,” Capello told AS of Ronaldo. “He was instrumental in Portugal winning EURO 2016 and Madrid winning the Champions League. He’d be the worthy winner. However, when we talk about geniuses then that’s a totally different debate.

Heaping praise on Ronaldo’s brilliant goal-scoring prowess,Capello said that the Portugal skipper lacks the brilliance of the Argentine.

“It’s simple: Cristiano Ronaldo is a great goalscorer but he doesn’t have the brilliance of Lionel Messi. Messi at the age of 17 or 18 was a genius; Cristiano was a good player who improved through hard work and effort and has become an excellent forward.

“Cristiano is not just a great player but an excellent one, but he doesn’t have that ability to mesmerise or pull off moves that are unimaginable. That, for me, is the difference.”

The winner of the award will be announced in Zurich on 9 January 2017.