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Ronaldo backed to keep his best player crown

CRISTIANO RONALDO has been backed to be crowned the best player in the world for the second year in a row.

The prolific forward scored four times in a 5-1 rout of Elche on Tuesday, only three days after bagging a hat-trick in an 8-2 thrashing of Deportivo.

His sensational run of form has resulted in him being punted in to evens to win the 2014 Ballon d’Or, with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi rated a 5-2 chance.

Messi was given the award in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, while Ronaldo won it last year and in 2008.

Hills are offering an attractive 4-11 that Ronaldo is still at Real Madrid on the first day of next season.

He has been linked with a move to former club Manchester United and is 3-1, from an earlier 8-1, to return to Old Trafford by the start of next term.

Bookmakers remain in disagreement about which country will host the 2022 World Cup. Coral and Ladbrokes make Qatar their 6-4 favourite, with the latter offering 15-8 about USA.

Paddy Power see things differently, going 21-10 about Qatar and 7-5 about USA.

England are best at 25-1 with Coral, who go 8-1 about Australia and 10-1 Germany.

Leyton Orient boss Russell Slade has hardened to 4-11 to be the next Cardiff manager, though Brian McDermott’s odds have tumbled further to 14-1.

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