Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo 'will be awarded fifth Ballon d’Or at top of Eiffel Tower' - report

The Real Madrid forward, who won a historic second successive Champions League title in May but has struggled for form in La Liga this season, is expected to be competing with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi once again for the gong.

But, according to a report in Spain, the 32-year-old has already been told he has won and will pick up the award from former France and Newcastle winger David Ginola in a ceremony that will be ‘full of glamour’, according to the organisers France Football.

Ronaldo is likely to be flanked by Madrid president Florentino Perez, who has insisted his player would win his fifth award to draw him level with Messi, and possibly coach Zinedine Zidane.

"Ronaldo is one of our great symbols," Perez told an assembly of Madrid members last week.

"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."

Last year the winner was leaked days in advance, and it could well have happened again. A photo was posted online apparently announcing Messi as the winner on the front cover of France Football, but the origin of that is not known.

The journalist behind this most recent story in Spain, Francesc Aguilar (Mundo Deportivo), is a reliable source and voted for the Ballon D’Or until 2014. He also advanced the story that Cristiano Ronaldo would be the winner last year.