It Would Be Good If Buffon Won The Ballon d’Or – Pique

Cristiano Ronaldo has strolled ahead as the favourite for the 2017 Ballon d’Or despite it being just May and Barcelona defender Gerard Pique believes the gong should go to Turin, not Madrid.

Ahead of Juventus’ Champions League final with Real Madrid, Gianluigi Buffon has been given the centre-back’s backing if Lionel Messi were not to claim the honour for his unbeatable goalscoring record.

“Messi this year will win the Golden Shoe as top scorer and deserves the Ballon d’Or again,” Pique told Mediaset in Italy. “But if you must look at the trophies then Buffon has won the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and can win the Champions League.

“He deserves it for his career and also for this season and it would be good for another goalkeeper to win it after after [Lev] Yashin.”

In evaluating the Cardiff final, Pique noted that the Bianconeri could follow his side’s rule to claim victory over Los Blancos.

“It will be a very close match between two great teams,” he continued.

“Juventus are a team that has been doing well for several years and are among the best clubs in Europe with great players like Buffon who really want to win this trophy for the first time, and Dani Alves, who was my teammate and it would be good to see him win.

“But it will be a final that anyone can win. Barcelona have shown how to beat Madrid by taking possession of the ball and trying to stop their counter-attacks.”

In fact, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri received praise from Pique as he spoke to the Italian’s countrymen even if he wouldn’t verbally label the tactician as his choice to succeed Luis Enrique.

“I do not know who will be our next coach, I have a good memory of Allegri since he won Serie A with Milan and it looks like he’s doing well at Juve,” said Pique.

“But I do not know who our next coach will be.”