Lionel Messi had a good giggle at Cristiano Ronaldo in pre Ballon d’Or Q&A session

The video below will likely excite those who enjoy playing up the Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry.

A few eyebrows were raised when Cristiano Ronaldo revealed he didn’t even vote for the Ballon d’Or.

As captain of his national team, Ronaldo was obliged to vote. But something came up.

His excuse didn’t exactly wash though, coming across as a bit of a man child trying to convince his teacher his dog ate his homework.

When asked who he voted for during the Q&A session, he nonchalantly replied with a cheeky grin, “I didn’t have the opportunity to vote. I had a cut (from elbow by David Navarro – in Real Madrid’s win at Levante); then I had to go on international duty, and they sent me home. And I didn’t vote… do you understand? Yes?”

Messi looks intrigued throughout Ronaldo’s spiel, furrowed brow and all, but by the end he can no longer hold it in and has a good chuckle to himself.

Which is understandable – it’s not like Ronaldo was voting through secret ballot for the American Presidency is it?

Surely he could have sent his vote in by email/phone call?!

But wait…Ronaldo had a better idea : why not ask Bruno Alves to stand in as vice-captain and cast his three votes for him? (See all the data from the voting here.) And guess what? Alves just so happened to give his No.1 vote to…Cristiano Ronaldo! What a perfect coincidence!

(Text via Paul Morrissey.)