26 Nov 2013

Ribery backs himself for Ballon d'Or

5:44 am on 26 November 2013

The Bayern Munich and France footballer Franck Ribery has confidentally predicted he'll be winning the World Player of the Year award because he "made the difference" and "set defences on fire".

Ribery, who helped Bayern to win an unprecedented German treble last season, was named UEFA's Best Player in Europe in August, and he's contention for FIFA's worldwide Ballon d'Or award.

The 30-year-old says he's never failed with his national team and club this year, and while Cristiano Ronaldo would be a contender having scored all four of Portugal's goals against Sweden in a World Cup playoff, he doesn't regard him as a threat.

The winner will be announced in the second week of January.