Ancelotti: Ronaldo has to win Ballon d'Or

The Italian threw his support behind the Portuguese after watching his side beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in a friendly on Thursday

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti says Cristiano Ronaldo has to win the Ballon d'Or and revealed he expects Xabi Alonso to sign a new contract with the club.

Madrid ran out 1-0 winners over Paris Saint-Germain in a friendly in Qatar on Thursday, thanks to Jese Rodriguez's 18th minute strike.

And the Italian used his post-match press conference to throw his weight of support behind Ronaldo, while discussing the respective futures of Alonso and Iker Casillas.

Bale plays better without Ronaldo - Villas-Boas

The former Tottenham boss feels the Wales international is only able to play his best football without the Portugal captain on the pitch - the player he says has been 2013's best

Former Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas feels Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has performed far better this season without Cristiano Ronaldo in the side.

The 24-year-old delivered some exceptional displays for los Blancos after initially struggling for fitness following his €100 million summer move, notching nine goals and six assists in 15 games in all competitions prior to the winter break.

Queiroz: Ronaldo was destined to become the Michael Jordan of football

The former Manchester United assistant has stressed that the attacker's success does not surprise him and expects the Madrid man to make a big impact at the World Cup

Former Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz believes Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo was destined to become one of the best players in the history of the game from a young age.

Queiroz - who is now Iran national team coach - coached Ronaldo during his time in charge of Portugal between 2008 and 2010 and also worked with the prolific attacker during his two spells as assistant manager to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United before his compatriot left for Real in 2009.

“Paris Saint Germain Were Desperate To Sign Cristiano Ronaldo” – Leonardo

Paris Saint Germain were more than keen to secure the signature of the Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo who is enjoying a record breaking end to the year.

Leonardo, the former sporting director of Paris Saint Germain has revealed in an exclusive interview with French program Telefoot that the club tried everything within their limits to lure Cristiano Ronaldo away from the Santiago Bernebeau only to be left empty handed in his efforts. The winger enjoyed a scintillating first half of the season, scoring 25 times in just 18 appearences and eclipsing Frank  Ribery and Lionel Messi to emerge as the favourite for the Ballon D’Or.

'Cristiano Ronaldo is above the rest' - Real Madrid's Marcelo says there is no comparison despite Gareth Bale hat-trick

Real Madrid left-back Marcelo is refusing to compare Gareth Bale with Ballon d'Or favourite Cristiano Ronaldo after the Welshman bagged a perfect hat-trick on Saturday.

Bale starred in Saturday’s 4-0 La Liga victory at home to 17-placed Real Valladolid, but Marcelo said: "There is no need to compare them, Cristiano is above the rest of the players and everyone in the team knows that.”

Gareth Bale praises Cristiano Ronaldo and other team-mates after first Real Madrid hat-trick

The former Tottenham man was in scintillating form as he put Valladolid to the sword with three goals and a brilliant assist.

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale was full of praise for his teammates following his first hat-trick for the Spanish giants, while reiterating his belief that Cristiano Ronaldo is the world's greatest.

The world's most expensive player scored three times as Los Blancos beat Real Valladolid 4-0, while his exquisite pass picked out Karim Benzema for Madrid's other goal.

Ribery 'disappointed' with Sakho Ballon d'Or snub

The Bayern Munich star admitted his frustration that his compatriot publicly stated he would vote for Cristiano Ronaldo to win the prestigious award.

Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery revealed he was "disappointed" by Mamadou Sakho's declaration that he would back Cristiano Ronaldo to be crowned Ballon d'Or winner.

Ribery was instrumental in die Roten's unprecedented treble last season and recently helped France to the 2014 World Cup by impressing in a 3-2 aggregate play-off win against Ukraine.

Messi: Ronaldo will be good for World Cup

Lionel Messi says despite the current hype around Cristiano Ronaldo, he has been “playing well for years”.

Ronaldo was pivotal to Portugal’s qualification for Brazil 2014, scoring all four goals in a 4-2 aggregate victory over Sweden last week.

The two superstars are both in line for the Ballon d'Or, and have been pitted against each other in the media recently, after Fifa president Sepp Blatter revealed – supposedly as a joke – that he prefers the Argentine.

Cristiano Ronaldo helps Portugal get leg up in World Cup playoff

He scores in the 82nd minute on a diving header for a 1-0 victory over Sweden. France's chances of qualifying for World Cup take a hit in 2-0 loss to Ukraine.

Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the battle of the superstar forwards to give Portugal the edge over Sweden in the World Cup playoffs, while France's chances of qualifying took a big hit by losing, 2-0, in Ukraine.

Ronaldo transferred his prolific scoring form for Real Madrid to the international stage, diving to head home an 82nd-minute winner and give Portugal a 1-0 cushion to take to Stockholm for Tuesday's second leg.

Bento insists Portugal will avoid defensive approach

Paulo Bento insists Portugal will not employ a defensive mentality in their FIFA World Cup play-off second leg in Sweden.

Cristiano Ronaldo once again proved the difference for Portugal on Friday as he stooped to head home Miguel Veloso's teasing cross in the 82nd minute to earn Bento's side a 1-0 win in the first leg in Lisbon.

The pre-match build up was dominated by which Ballon d'Or contender - Ronaldo or Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic - would come to the fore, and it was the Real Madrid star who put his stamp on the match.

Roberto Carlos tips Ronaldo for Ballon d'Or

The former Real Madrid full-back believes the Portugal star deserves this year's prize and has backed Gareth Bale to become "one of the best" at Santiago Bernabeu

Former Real Madrid and Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos has revealed his confidence that Cristiano Ronaldo can beat the likes of Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery to the 2013 Ballon d'Or.

The Portuguese sensation has netted 62 goals in 2013 already has 24 this season, although a lack of silverware with Madrid in 2012-13 could hamper his chances of lifting the prestigious individual prize for the first time since 2008.

Ribery: I deserve to win Ballon d'Or

The winger, who has shone as Bayern Munich won the treble in May and been brilliant this season, believes he has taken his game up a level recently

Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribery says he deserves to win this year's Ballon d'Or over fellow frontrunners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Frenchman has shone in 2013 as the Bavarians stormed to a Bundesliga title win, lifted the DFB-Pokal and became European champions, and have started the current campaign under new coach Pep Guardiola in terrific fashion too.

Gareth Bale vows to wow Real Madrid fans as he hits full fitness in Spain

His words will strike fear in the hearts of defenders across Spain as he says his partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo is blossoming.

Gareth Bale believes he can up his game even further as he gets close to full fitness for the first time since his big-money move to Real Madrid.

The highly-rated Welshman joined the Spanish giants from Tottenham in the summer for a deal believed to be worth around £85million. The north London side paid roughly £10million for him back in 2007.

Mourinho: Coaching CR7 is highlight of my career

Jose Mourinho says coaching Cristiano Ronaldo was “the highlight of my career”, adding that he is “out of this world”.

The pair’s relationship soured towards the end of Mourinho’s time coaching Real Madrid, and seemed to come to a head in a preseason friendly between Chelsea and Real Madrid in August.

The Portugal star scored twice for Los Blancos in a 3-1 over the Blues, and after his first goal, a textbook free-kick, he did not celebrate, instead turning to face Mourinho in the dub-out and pointing at his chest with a sneer.

Portugal Fears over Cristiano Ronaldo as Real Madrid Star Misses WCQ Training

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo sat out training with Portugal on Tuesday, sparking fears that he might not be fit for Friday's World Cup play-off first leg against Sweden.

Ronaldo has been struggling slightly with an injury to his left foot in recent weeks, but played in Real Madrid's demolition of Real Sociedad at the weekend.

Nevertheless, the Daily Mail reports that he missed training with the national team on Tuesday—a precautionary measure with Friday's first leg in Lisbon.

Juventus squad for Real Madrid

Juventus have named their 20-man squad for the match against Real Madrid on Tuesday, and will be without Giorgio Chiellini.

The defender was given his marching orders at Santiago Bernabeu two weeks’ ago, having been adjudged to have elbowed Cristiano Ronaldo.

As such, the Italy international will miss the return fixture tomorrow. The Bianconeri though, welcome back Fabio Quagliarella to the squad.

Ronaldo reaches 100 away goals with Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal-scoring capability was evident from the very first away match he played with Real Madrid, which took place in Cornellá El-Prat against Espanyol (0-3) in the first official game played in that stadium. The Portuguese striker has found the net in 61 of the 106 games he has played outside the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid Projected Lineup for El Clásico

Like it or not, Ancelotti will likely have to pick a good defensive team to play against Barcelona. As he stated in his press conference, it's very difficult to keep the ball away from Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and company, so it could be better for Real Madrid to turn into a counterattacking side.

Luckily enough for him, Ancelotti has recovered every single player in the roster with the exception of Xabi Alonso. It would have been great to have Xabi against Barcelona, but the Spanish midfielder will have to wait. Considering the team is playing well with the 4-3-3 formation, Ancelotti will likely deploy that formation again. Illarramendi and Khedira will be in the midfield with Luka Modric being the most creative player on Real's midfield. The Croatian player's ability to defend is better than Isco, so Ancelotti would be smart to start him.

Bale Could Start for Real Madrid in Clásico

The attention will understandably be on the newcomers Saturday as the Brazilian star Neymar and the Welsh wing Gareth Bale are set to play key roles in their first Barcelona-Real Madrid Clásico game. But while Neymar works his way into the Barcelona attack and Bale eases into the Madrid midfield, the long-running comparison between their top teammates, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, continues unabated.

The scoring of Messi and Ronaldo has driven the Clásico in recent years, and this season has been more of the same. Messi enters Saturday’s showdown with 12 goals in 11 games — a remarkable rate, yet one that still falls short of Ronaldo’s pace of 15 goals in 12 games.

Tevez calls for Juve to regroup

Champions Juventus are expected to return to Serie A with fire back in the belly after a brace from Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo virtually extinguished their Champions League hopes.

Juve host Genoa on Sunday with the pain of Wednesday's Cristinao Ronaldo-inspired 2-1 defeat at Real Madrid still fresh in their minds.

However Antonio Conte's men won't have time to ponder too long, with Roma five points ahead of both Juve and second-placed Napoli, and the capital club looking to make it nine wins from nine on their visit to Udinese.

Juventus battled to the quarter-final stages of the competition last season before being dumped from the tournament by eventual champions Bayern Munich.