Ronaldo: I'd like to play with Messi and Neuer

Speaking ahead of the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday, the Portuguese said football is about the present and added that he would be keen to link up with his fellow nominees

Cristiano Ronaldo says he would be interested in playing with fellow Fifa Ballon d'Or candidates Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer in future.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony later on Monday in the official press conference, all three players were asked which footballers from the past they would like to have played with.

Both Messi and Neuer declined to give names in their answers, but Ronaldo surprised the watching media by revealing he would like to link up with his Barcelona rival and the Germany goalkeeper.

"Football is about the present," he said. "The most important thing is the present. In the past there were great players, but for me it would be interesting to play with the two that are here with me now."

Later, Messi was asked whether he would like to take up Ronaldo's offer and play with the Portuguese one day.

"I always like playing with the best players," he said. "It may be difficult because of the teams we play for, but I like to play with the best and he is one of them."

For his part, Neuer added: "I like playing with successful teams. I have idols from the past and it would of course be wonderful to play with those great players but it would be wrong to pick out only one."