Neuer: I’m not a global brand like Ballon d’Or rivals Ronaldo & Messi

Manuel Neuer says he is at a disadvantage in the race for this year’s Ballon d’Or as he is not a “global brand” like fellow nominees Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The Gelsenkirchen native is widely credited with revolutionising the role of the goalkeeper because of his footballing skills and the way in which he serves as a makeshift sweeper, while he is also coming off the back of a year in which he won the World Cup with Germany and the double with Bayern Munich.
However, Neuer does not feel he has much chance of getting the better of Ronaldo or Messi, given the pair’s superstar status.

“I’m proud just to be one of the candidates for the Ballon d’Or,” the 28-year-old told Suddeutsche Zeitung. “The other two players are global brands in their own right and maybe for that reason have an advantage.”