Luis Enrique plays down Suarez Ballon d'Or shortlist snub

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique refused to be drawn on the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's inclusion in the Ballon d'Or shortlist ahead of Luis Suarez, stating "there are good players in other teams".

Ronaldo and Lionel Messi and Neymar will contest the award on January 11 in Zurich, although the Real Madrid star's nomination has come under scrutiny with Brazil captain Neymar particularly vocal in his belief it should have been a Barca 1-2-3.

He told Globo Esporte prior to the announcement: "I think we [Messi, Suarez and Neymar] deserve to be there for what we have been doing.

"I would be very happy if Barca's trident formed the three candidates, for all the history we are making and for all we are winning, the three of us should be there."

The famed MSN frontline contributed 122 goals in all competitions as Barca cruised to a treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League in 2014-15 but Luis Enrique was willing to take a step back and accept there were other players worthy of nominations.