• Football

Neuer's dig at Ronaldo is just pants!

Manuel Neuer says he's focused on his craft, not modeling opportunities - a dig at Cristiano Ronaldo? © ESPN FC

Enlarge

It's been a long time - 51 years to be precise - since a goalkeeper last won the Ballon d'Or, though many are speculating Bayern Munich's imperious stopper, Manuel Neuer, retains an outside chance of finally muscling his way into the history books this time around despite Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo trading FIFA's top gong back and forth between themselves since 2008.

That said, Neuer himself isn't overly confident of breaking the Ballon d'Or duopoly regardless of having lifted both the Bundesliga and German Cup titles last season before winning the World Cup with his national side out in Brazil over the summer.

Indeed, speaking to Kicker magazine, the German No.1 remained skeptical at the prospect of becoming the first keeper to win the award since Lev Yashin in 1963, largely due to his relative lack of superstar profile compared to some of the other more flashy players on the 2014 shortlist.

"I am a sportsman, not a brand ambassador. I am not the sort of person who poses in underwear," said Neuer, who some say was aiming a minor if none-too-subtle dig at a certain Real Madrid superstar who's never shy when it comes to strutting around in his smalls.

"I hate the red carpet, I prefer the green grass. I feel better on the pitch, trying to improve myself."

However, far be it from us to be that guy, but it would appear Neuer isn't quite as prudish as he claims when it comes to posing in his pants.

In fact, if the following photo is anything to go by, it seems that the Bayern man hasn't exactly been 100% averse to appearing semi-naked in front of the camera in the past:

@caroguillenESPN Que curioso.. xD pic.twitter.com/6bGiygnprq

— Arantxa ari (@Arantxaari1) November 17, 2014

Rumbled!

Consider the playing field leveled...

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd