By Moses Adeyemi

‘Ronaldo’s ambition have always been mistaken for arrogance , but you know people will always talk’.

Andres Villa boas believes that his compatriot is unfairly criticised for having lofty aspirations, suggesting he has been won over after previously considering Lionel Messi to be better.

The Real Madrid forward is the favourite to win the Fifa Bllon d’Or, which will be awarded this coming Monday, for being the best player of 2014 ahead of Messi and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Some of Ronaldo’s critics in the past have labelled him as arrogant, but Villas-Boas – who now coaches Zenit St Petersburg – believes that is an incorrect assumption and that the 29-year-old deserves more respect.

“I think sometimes drive and ambition of individuals should not be confused as arrogance, and sometimes Cristiano gets that tag on him,” the Portuguese trainer told Laureus as part of the sports academy’s World Sportsman of the Year award build-up.

Cristiano does not get that margin of respect that sometimes Messi does, but you know hopefully this determination and passion has shown that for this time round he deserves to win it.