Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has insisted he would never vote for himself to win the Ballon d'Or.
The comments, in a new issue of France Football magazine, are in stark contrast to those made by teammate Cristiano Ronaldo elsewhere in the same issue. The Portuguese wingman not only confessed he would vote for himself if possible but said 'all the players would do.'
“Frankly, I could not do it,” said the Los Blancos custodian. “I prefer that recognition for my work comes from outside, rather than myself.”
Casillas then gave his thoughts on why goalkeepers aren't given individual awards more often, and why his first Ballon d'Or vote is going to Sergio Ramos.
“Outfield players are more seductive. I wonder why goalkeepers are not recognised as decisive. We are the only essential players of a team.
“I can assure you that Ramos had his most complete season of the last eight years. He was sensational throughout the League and at Euro 2012. People remember the penalty he missed against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.”
The 31-year-old ended by assessing his own form and paying homage to Real boss Jose Mourinho.
“Physically I've realised I'm no longer 20, I need to work more, go to the gym. When I watch myself on TV I realise that the Casillas of today has nothing to do with that of five or eight years ago.
“For two years with Mourinho, Real have recovered their standing in the European Cup. Before we were always eliminated in the second round, we were not important in the European scene.”
