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Daniel Alves: 'Lionel Messi doesn't need Ballon d'Or'

Daniel Alves claims that Lionel Messi is still the world's best player whether or not he wins the FIFA Ballon d'Or later this month.

Barcelona defender Daniel Alves has said that Lionel Messi doesn't need the FIFA Ballon d'Or to be recognised as the world's best player.

The prestigious gong will be handed out later this month, with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo the favourite, but Alves claimed that his teammate, who has scooped the prize a record four times, is still the planet's finest player.

"The Ballon d'Or thing is a little tiresome because it has been moved to a different playing field," Goal.com quotes the Brazilian as saying. "It has moved to the field of opinions and off the field of play. But if we look at the field of play, I think Leo, for as long as he is around, will push the rest into second place.

"Moving away from that, perhaps he has less chance. The winner will be the one who has had the best campaign, or the best publicity campaign.

"We are talking about the Ballon d'Or as if we were talking about politics. The one with the best campaign wins, not the one who plays the best football, the one who makes the most incredible runs or scores the most goals."

Barcelona are currently second in La Liga.

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Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona takes to the field for the La Liga match between Real Betis and FC Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin on November 10, 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


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