Platini comments only add more fuel to Ronaldo's fire

The top three players in the running for the Ballon d'Or will be announced Monday, and a year on from Sepp Blatter's derogatory remarks about the Real Madrid star, UEFA president Michel Platini has upset the free-scoring Portuguese forward and the European champions by insisting the award should go to someone who has won the World Cup -- in other words, a German.

It seems to be an annual occurrence. Twelve months ago, Blatter likened the former Manchester United man to a "commander" on the pitch and someone who spends plenty of time getting his hair done when comparing him to Messi, the man who had won four Ballon d'Or awards before Ronaldo clinched his second in January, despite the comments from the FIFA president.

As Real Madrid did last year, the club have taken exception and released a statement Friday criticising Platini, saying he should remain impartial given his position, and Real backed their man to defend his individual trophy. The current Liga leaders need to be seen to be defending their man, but Platini's comments should do little damage to Ronaldo or Madrid. Instead, they will probably act as a shot in the arm.

When Blatter made his remarks last year, and after Ronaldo defended himself and hit back through his own social media outlets, the Madrid talisman went on to score a hat trick and help Madrid to a thumping 7-3 victory over Sevilla in the following match. The now-famous "commander" celebration followed, a nod to the FIFA president, and the only losers on that occasion were Sevilla and the sides Ronaldo was to demolish soon after.

The forward went on a comment-fueled rampage. He scored in each of his next four matches, twice at Rayo Vallecano, once at Juventus, another hat trick in his next home match against Real Sociedad, and another in a thumping 5-0 win at Almeria. Madrid had complained that Blatter's comments were damaging, but the only damage being done was Ronaldo to his quivering opposition. Instead of damaging Ronaldo, the comments went on to inspire him.

They did little in the way of damaging his bid to end Messi's domination of the Ballon d'Or, either. FIFA extended the vote because of a lack of voting slips, and that extension included Ronaldo's hat trick in a World Cup playoff match against Sweden. If people weren't voting for Ronaldo before, that treble certainly wouldn't have harmed his chances of getting more votes. In Zurich a month later, Ronaldo lifted what he had been craving.

A year on, Malaga will not be too happy at the timing of Platini's comments. Manager Javi Gracia's side host a Madrid side looking to set a new club record of 16 consecutive wins in all competitions. In Ronaldo, Malaga are also facing a player who has scored in every league game he has played so far this season, and he will be even more fired up at Estadio La Rosaleda on Saturday. This time he has not yet responded with his own comments, but maybe this time he knows he can offer his response on the pitch. It'll be interesting to see the celebration he comes up with if he continues his scintillating scoring spree.

The timing of Platini's comments will not impact the Ballon d'Or vote, either. While Blatter's comments came before voting closed last year, this year the UEFA man's words have come after voting has closed. The Ballon d'Or rules and regulations state the period of time runs from Nov. 30, 2013 until Nov. 21, 2014. That means the end date also came before Lionel Messi's midweek hat trick at APOEL, although his record-breaking treble against Sevilla last weekend falls within the period.

How much would the comments of two men, who are viewed sceptically by some, at least in their current roles, have an impact on those international captains, managers and journalists anyway? Probably very little. Most of the minds will have been made up long before this week, branding comments from the sport's governing bodies meaningless as far as voting for the award is concerned.

However, Madrid are right to defend their man and are also right to state that Platini, and indeed Blatter a year ago, should be impartial. The club should probably keep its lips pressed tight until the award is handed over in Zurich on Jan. 12. These are the powers in charge of running the award, and they should have no influence over the voting.

There is also the matter of FIFA and France Football clearing up the voting process once and for all. The award is seen as the top individual honour, but Platini's comments that a World Cup winner should win the accolade points toward a more team-based achievement. While those achievements will undoubtedly be taken into consideration, the individual talents of the player should be taken into consideration as things stand currently. While a player such as Manuel Neuer has the advantage of being born in a nation ready to lift the World Cup, the disadvantage of a player such as Ronaldo (who represents a nation less likely to win world football's top honour) should not count against his own abilities.

After all this, the current holder will still be the hot favourite to lift his third Ballon d'Or (one since FIFA joined forces with France Football and one before) thanks to his exceptional form in this calendar year. Ronaldo notched his 50th Madrid goal this calendar year in the victory at Eibar last weekend, broke a new Champions League goal-scoring record with 17 in one campaign to help Los Blancos to La Decima, and has scored in every league game so far this term, with 26 in all competitions before the season has even reached its halfway point. If team accolades are being taken into consideration, add the Champions League, Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup for good measure.

Platini's comments may not have been welcomed by Ronaldo or by Madrid, but they should have no impact on his Ballon d'Or chances and should act to make an on-song player even more hungry for goals in the coming weeks. It could be good news for manager Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid.