Xavi admits Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning player-coach Cristiano Ronaldo could win Ballon D’or

Sometimes you just have to put party allegiances aside.

For instance, if you are a card-carrying member of the Republican Party, you don't have to vote for a tax-dodging, xenophobic, misogynist, nose-bunting puller, just because he is your party's candidate. https://twitter.com/IamHappyToast/status/783109385983627264 You can always vote for the other party's candidate. Even if you accept that she isn't perfect, her flaws pale in comparison to those of the tax-dodging, xenophobic, misogynist, nose-bunting puller. As the old saying goes, "What shall apply in the US Presidential Election shall also be relevant in the race to become the leader of the Free World  - AKA the annual Ballon D'Or run-off between Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi". It's an old saying, no one said it was catchy. With the unwelcome international break interrupting the pointless and predictable Champions League group stages, minds have started to cast forward to the forthcoming election and the glitzy award show in Zurich, where Messi will get the chance to unveil the latest crime against tuxedos. Having shared the award between them since 2008, nobody is really expecting a third party candidate to break-up the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly, so speculation is pretty much limited to picking one Galactico over the other. In September Messi's former conductor, Xavi, caused consternation in the Spanish capital when he claimed "anyone who likes football" would choose the Argentine over Ronaldo. Now, on reflection (and perhaps considering Ronaldo starred for Real's Champions League-winning team and managed Portugal to Euro final glory after dragging them to the final), the Spanish maestro has admitted the former Manchester United man has a shot at glory.

"Cristiano has the numbers to win this year's Ballon d'Or, having won the Champions League and the Euros," said Xavi. "But I also think that it'll be very competitive, because Messi will be there, of course."

Xavi has been on that podium (much to the consternation of the Daily Mail, above) and knows what it takes to win, despite never quite managing to break up that Ronaldo-Messi duopoly. Xavi thinks Ronaldo has a shot, but as long as the tax-dodging, xenophobic, misogynist, nose-bunting puller doesn't win, does anyone really care?

The GAA Hour pays tribute to the unbeatable Dubs and ask where did it all go wrong for Mayo in the All-Ireland final replay. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.