Ribery: "Before I was good. Now I´m the best"

French international and Bayern Munich player Frank Ribéry has declared this Thursday in an interview with 'L'Équipe' that he deserves the Ballon d'Or more than Cristiano or Messi. He believes that his improvement on the field of play, his present top form and the trophies that he has won make him deserving of the award more than anyone else.

"There is all that I have done on the pitch, what I have done to return to my best form, my daily professionalism and the trophies that I have won", argued the Frenchman, who in the last year has lifted the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup trophies.

Ribéry says that he is "a step away" from picking up the FIFA award and the award winning ceremony held by the French publication "France Football", to be held 13th January 2014 in the Zurich Kongresshaus. "On the fireplace, in the living room. My wife has it all ready. I try not to think about it too much, but my wife does a lot. At Bayern, we all think that I should win it", assured the 30-year-old Frenchman.

The Bayern player has said that the prize for the best European player of the year, which is also being hotly contested by Barça's Lionel Messi and Real's Cristiano Ronaldo, made him improve his game, and that he feels he has been a " very constant" player during 2013. "Before I was good. Now I am the best", the player declared.