- FIFA
Ribery shrugs off Ronaldo backing
Franck Ribery has said Bayern Munich fans "do not need to show" how much they love him in response to Real Madrid supporters' mass backing of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Some 45,000 Ronaldo masks were distributed by Madrid fans ahead of their Champions League win against Galatasaray to show their support for the Portuguese international, who is one of Ribery's main rivals for this year's Ballon d'Or.
The France international, 30, told RTL he knows fans of the German and European champions adore him without having to go to such lengths.
"It's good for Ronaldo, but the love that they can give me here is even stronger. I know that here they don't need to show that through such gestures. On the contrary, I know the Bayern fans love me a lot and I feel that every day," Ribery said.
Ronaldo was installed as the favourite for the award after the deadline for voting was extended until November 29, allowing the Portugal captain's hat-trick against Sweden in the World Cup 2014 play-offs to be taken into consideration.
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