Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster says Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo deserves the Ballon d'Or ahead of his goalkeeper Iker Casillas. "I think that this year Cristiano Ronaldo deserves it. He was the leading scorer in Europe with 42 goals, has won the league and Champions League...that should be sufficient," Schuster said in Marca.

"He didn't do so well with the national team (at Euro 2008), but this was due to Spain and Germany.

"It's easy to say that Spaniards Iker and Xavi (should win it), but if you take into account the overall season you see that Cristiano is the one."