Cristiano Ronaldo: 'Not winning Ballon d'Or is not a disaster'

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he will not be disappointed if he fails to win the FIFA Ballon d'Or this year.

The Portugal international has been shortlisted for the prestigious individual award along with Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.

"I cannot exist just for individual awards, it would not be right," Ronaldo told the Portuguese football federation's official website. "The career of a player is not marked by individual trophies, but by the collective.

"When the decision is known [for this year's Ballon d'Or winner], I may be very happy, I may be sad. But it remains a fact of life, if you win, perfect, if not then have patience, life goes on.

"Obviously I would like to win. I will not be a hypocrite or a liar, it is something that I covet, but I cannot think about if I don't win."

Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or in 2008.