Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he feels he is a victim of his perceived arrogance. The Portugese told CNN that he believes he is unfavourably viewed in comparisons with Lionel Messi as, “maybe…I have a bad image on the pitch because I’m too serious.”

It was put to Ronaldo that some people may have voted for Messi over him in the Ballon d’Or ballot in recent years because they like the Argentinian, and what they believe to be his attitude, over the Portugese on a personal level.

Ronaldo and Messi again go head to head for the award in January. Messi has won the award three times, a record equalling tally and he is the only player to ever win three in a row. If he wins a fourth he will arguably be the most decorated individual of all time.

Ronaldo has won the award once, in 2008 but the general public perception of him is one of an arrogant, petulant man- totally at odds with the general view of Messi as a humble, relaxed individual.

The winger said he feels he is perceived wrongly, as a negative and arrogant man, but that his true personality is quite different.

“But if you really know me, if you are my friend and I leave you inside my house and you share the day with me, you will know I hate to lose…You know, sometimes I’m a victim of that because they don’t know the real Cristiano…But, this is part of the life. This is me.”