Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are both more deserving of the Ballon d'Or award than Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva.
The Portugal international is tipped to pick up the game's most prestigious individual prize for the first time since 2008, having hit 63 goals for club and country in 2013 - including seven hat-tricks.
However, Silva has revealed that he voted for Messi - a four-time recipient of the award - and teammate Ibrahimovic ahead of the Real Madrid marksman.
Speaking to Globoesporte, the Brazilian said: "I voted for Messi as first, second Ibra due to all the goals he has scored, and Cristiano Ronaldo in third; he did not win any titles in the last year.
"They are all great players and any one of them could be there as the winner."
The winner is scheduled to be announced in January, when the trio also face stiff competition in the form of Franck Ribery, who helped Bayern Munich to an unprecedented treble last season.
Shane Callaghan
