Andres Iniesta has his top candidate for the Ballon d'Or award

Andres Iniesta has his top candidate for the Ballon d'Or award

Andres Iniesta, one of the favourites each year to win the Ballon d'Or, is usually only prevented by two footballing monsters - Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - from winning an accolade many think he deserves. 

Iniesta told Sport, during a presentation of his new wines at his store, that he knows who he thinks should win the Ballon d'Or. "There are many players. My No 1 candidate is Leo (Messi), and after that if it's a team-mate, Luis Suarez or Ney, I would be delighted."

Iniesta is pleased with Barcelona signing Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez, adding competition into the midfield. "I have the hope of retiring at my club, at Barcelona, because that's my desire. Apart from that I have to look year on year, and seeing how I find myself, not because I want to leave, but because of the situation. I hope that next June I have the same sensation as the last year, that it has been one of the ones I've enjoyed most as a player."

Regarding Messi's international retirement, he added: "I'm not anyone to advise anyone, in this case Leo. Everyone has their own personal situation, he sees things in his way and he takes the decisions. I have nothing to advise him."