Luis Figo is shocked to win the Golden Ball – and Liverpool fans will hate this title

Before Cristiano Ronaldo began his decade with Lionel Messi, the previous Portuguese player to win the Golden Ball was Luis Figo.

The elegant midfielder won the award in 2000, shortly after his controversial pbadage from Barcelona to Real Madrid, for which he was rewarded with a pig's head during his first return to the Nou Camp dressed in white .

Figo's victory was the first of seven awards given to a Real Madrid player this century, the latest being the one of last year, although Luka Modric finally broke Ronaldo-Messi's bridle.

But according to Figo, the prize would have been deserved by another Real player, whether for this year or not.

"It is clear that Sergio Ramos deserves to win the Golden Ball," said Figo to Marca, without however specifying his intention of 2018.

"Being a defender is almost like being a goalkeeper, it's much harder to win the trophy, but (Fabio) Cannavaro did it (when Italy won the World Cup in 2006) .

"It depends on the time, the year, but just for the quality, it is obvious that Ramos should win it."

Should it?

The hardness of the Spanish defender and his willingness to win are what we always talk about when we mention it, as well as some of his "dark arts" that we saw against Liverpool in last season's Champions League final.

But the Ball of Gold?

You may be alone here, Luis.