Luka Modric took home the Ballon d'Or for 2018 after helping Croatia to the World Cup final, but Luis Figo believes that Sergio Ramos also deserves to win the top individual prize.
The defender captained Real Madrid to their third successive Champions League in Kiev, although he was also present for Spain's disappointing World Cup campaign in Russia.
The former Los Blancos star believes that the defender is worthy of winning the award but that defenders have to do more in order to be considered serious candidates.
"It's clear that Sergio Ramos deserves to win the Ballon d'Or," Figo explained in an exclusive interview with MARCA.
"Being a defender is almost like being a goalkeeper, it's a lot more difficult to win the award, but Cannavaro managed it.
"It depends on the moment, on the year, but for quality alone it's obvious that Ramos should win it."
Figo's own career saw him represent a number of exceptional clubs and work with fantastic coaches, including Johan Cruyff, Jose Mourinho and Vicente del Bosque, however he values the influence the Dutchman had on him.
"I have had the sheer good fortune to work with Cruyff," he admitted.
"He was a master in terms of philosophy and great for me to learn from.
"Queiroz was my coach with the national team, but with other teams I worked with Del Bosque and Mourinho, it's difficult to choose between them as they were all important to me."
However, despite the Portuguese winger's incredible career, he will be forever tied to one of the more controversial incidents in Spanish football's history.
He abandoned Barcelona to join Real Madrid at the turn of the millennium and was then forced to endure an awfully heated atmosphere upon his return to the Camp Nou, something which he regrets.
"When you make a chance you always think it will be for the best," he intimated.
"I was looking for recognition and trying to improve in every facet, economically, prestige wise and with titles.
"When I signed for Inter it was simply about looking for football happiness."
Trevorn
78
Winning Ballon d'Or will officially give this man the best defender title and he's already considered to be so without winning it. You can hate him,troll his name,call him a wrestler and all that bs but it wouldn't change the fact that he is a great defender for both club and country. to win Ballon d'Or is the ultimate achievement for any player,even more for a defender. It is difficult for him to win it since cr7,Messi and so on are all still playing football but not impossible. I would love it if he wins it
Elsa98
65
He deserves to win the Red Card d'Or too.
dettaboss4l
62
More like a World Heavyweight Championship 😂😂😂
Rashniccr7
47
Exactly, the only captain who scores like a Hen Defend like a Tortoise and attack like a lion
Akri_Edits
39
Well from my point of view , he deserves to yeah he deserves to win , but after modric took it & break tge Messi-Ronaldo Era , i wouldn’t think that they will keep quiet but they are coming back stronger to prove that the ballon dor deserve them ! Ballon dor deserves them , they are both above it ...