Real Madrid defend Cristiano Ronaldo, attack Michel Platini in Ballon d'Or row

The UEFA president claimed earlier in the week that Germany's World Cup win as a team means the individual award should go to one of them, as opposed to clear favourites Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

"Several players deserve the Ballon d'Or, but I'm of the opinion that in a World Cup year this award should go to a world champion," the Frenchman told EFE.

"This is in line with what I said four years ago when, in my opinion, the prize should have been awarded to a Spanish player."

The expression of opinion from a high-ranking football chief did not sit well with Real, whose star player Ronaldo won the award last year and looks set to make it two in a row.

However, their rebuttal via a club statement on their official website was a little strange.

It read: "In view of the declarations made by the president of UEFA, Michel Platini, concerning the winner of the Ballon d'Or, Real Madrid C.F. would like to outline:

"Firstly, its surprise at the repeated declarations regarding his personal preferences over the choice of the winner of the Ballon d'Or, particularly given that he is the head of European football's principal body, where our understanding is that the strictest impartiality should prevail.

"Secondly, the Ballon d'Or is an individual rather than collective prize which is awarded annually to the best player in the world, and we believe that, in order to maintain its prestige, those who participate in the vote should take into account exclusively the individual professional achievements of the players.

"Finally, we believe that Cristiano Ronaldo has without doubt had his best ever professional year individually, and has claimed the Champions League, the Golden Shoe and the record for the highest goalscorer in an edition of the Champions League, as well as the Copa del Rey and the top-scorer award in La Liga. In the current season, he has won the European Super Cup, scoring both goals in the match, and is achieving spectacular figures such as his 20 goals in the first 12 matchdays of La Liga, which confirm his great moment of form and ensure that, more than ever, he is deserving of the Ballon d'Or."

This follows an interview with Real defender Alvaro Arbeloa, who was first to question Platini's decision to weigh in on the debate.

"With all due respect, I can’t understand how the president of UEFA can express a personal opinion about an issue like this, or take up a position in that way," the full-back, 31, told reporters at a book launch on Thursday.

Good grief - what a ridiculous playground squabble over nothing. For what it's worth, we think Real Madrid are dead right - Ronaldo DOES deserve another Ballon d'Or - but rising to the bait in this manner to a fairly innocuous statement from Platini reveals them as petty and small minded.

As for Platini? Well the man is entitled to an opinion, of course, and given that the big award is a FIFA and France Football thing we can't really see any reason for UEFA's chief not to share that opinion. Then again, a bit of impartiality would probably have been a lot more diplomatic. Then again, since when does Platini (or Sepp Blatter, for that matter) do diplomatic? Not this lifetime.

And one last thing: the German World Cup win was a masterpiece of team ethic trumping individual brilliance, and it seems invidious to pick one person out for an individual prize.

Ronaldo 1-6

Messi 8-1

Manuel Neuer 16-1

Thomas Muller 25-1

Philipp Lahm, Gareth Bale, Arjen Robben, James Rodriguez, Diego Costa - 66-1