Alves: I don't know how Ronaldo beat Neymar
Dani Alves passed through the mixed zone at the Ballon d'Or ceremony after being named in the FIFPro World Team of the Year on Monday. He showed his satisfaction as Messi winning the top prize for a fifth time, but he didn't understand how Cristiano Ronaldo finished second ahead of Neymar.
"Nothing surprises me any more in the football world, but I don't agree with the difference [in votes] between Ney and Cristiano," he said. "If Leo didn't win it, it had to be Ney. But he will win it one day. He has a lot of potential and quality. He wants it and he will fight a lot to achieve it. He always fights for his dreams."
On Messi, there was also praise. Questioned what he will tell his grandchildren about the Argentine, he joked that "he will have to say that he played with me, because I am older than him!" In a more serious tune, he said "it's a great honour. He's a player who's marked an era. He's fantastic, incredible. And he'll be rated even higher when he's not here."
He added: "Leo will win Ballon d'Ors for as long as he wants to. He's like the best wines, they always get better as time passes." Finally, on his own prize, he explained "it's the fifth year I've been here and I was joking with Leo, because everytime I come, he wins the Ballon d'Or."
