NIKE have hinted Cristiano Ronaldo is set to equal Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or record.
The sportswear giants have released two new sets of CR7 boots ahead of tomorrow’s big announcement.
One set of boots – the Mercurial Superfly V Quinto Triunfo CR7 – even reads “fifth triumph” when translated from Portuguese.
They are white and gold have the four years in which Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or – 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 – as well as 2017, inscribed inside of them.
Ronaldo himself announced the release of his own Air Force 1 CR7 trainers – following the same white/gold colour scheme.
French publication France Football will name the winner of the coveted award this year.
Ronaldo, 32, is hotly tipped to take home his fifth gong and draw level with Barcelona rival Lionel Messi.
He will reportedly receive it atop the Eiffel Tower.
RONALDOUGH Cristiano Ronaldo No1 in Europe’s richest sports star list – with only one Englishman in top 20
Real president Florentino Perez claimed his club’s star player will win the award.
He said: “Ronaldo is one of our great symbols.
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“He is the leading goalscorer in our history. A few days ago, he won his second ‘The Best’ and this week he is going to win his fifth Ballon d’Or.”
Ronaldo scored twice as Los Blancos claimed their 12th Champions League, and captained Portugal to an historic Euro 2016 triumph.
Download the Nike SNEAKRS App to find out more Nike.com/SNEAKRS #AF1 #CR7And it has arguably been one of the best years of his life off the pitch – after girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez gave birth to his fourth child.
Despite Ronnie preparing to take all the plaudits, Messi’s Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde insists prizes do not concern him.
He said: “I don’t value any prize at all. Everyone is free to give prizes that they believe are convenient to the players.
“The Golden Shoe, the Ballon d’Or . . . I don’t know how many prizes exist. I’d rather not to evaluate any of them.”
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