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Diego Simeone backs Diego Costa for Ballon d'Or

By , Football Editor
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone claims that Diego Costa should be a candidate for the Ballon d'Or next year.

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone believes that Diego Costa should be a candidate for the Ballon d'Or next year.

The Spanish international has scored 34 times in all competitions this season, with that run of form helping Atletico into the semi-finals of the Champions League and top of the La Liga table.

While Simeone believes that his leading scorer can improve, the Argentine has backed the forward to be "among the candidates" for next year's Ballon d'Or.

"Costa has room for improvement. He's rebellious and I like that. Hopefully he doesn't stop growing," he told Onda Cero.

"It depends on what he wants to do. Today, he's among the candidates for the Ballon d'Or."

Costa is currently nursing an injured leg, but is expected to be fit for Friday's La Liga clash against Elche.

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Head coach Diego Simeone of Atletico de Madrid congratulates goal-scorer Diego Costa during a La Liga match on October 27, 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico19135134122244
2Real Madrid19134243192443
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal198653431330
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad198471713428
8GironaGirona198472725228
9Rayo Vallecano196762222025
10Real BetisBetis196762123-225
11Osasuna196762328-525
12Celta Vigo197392830-224
13Sevilla196582128-723
14Las PalmasLas Palmas196492429-522
15Getafe194781316-319
16Leganes194781829-1119
17AlavesAlaves1945102131-1017
18Espanyol1944111731-1416
19Real ValladolidValladolid1943121337-2415
20Valencia1927101829-1113
> La Liga Full Table


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