Former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas says that people mistake Cristiano Ronaldo’s ambition has arrogance.

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the top names in world football and he has been in impeccable form over the last six months. It has been a major reason towards Real Madrid setting a new record of 22 victories in succession in all competitions.

The forward is the top scorer in the la Liga by a considerable margin with 26 goals to his name. The next best scorer – his archrival Lionel Messi – only has 15 to his name. Despite this dominance, Messi is seen as being more popular because of his humility while Ronaldo is seen as arrogant.

Fellow Portuguese, Villas-Boas, says that Ronaldo is one of the most ambitious footballers he has ever met and that is ambition may be mistaken for arrogance in various quarters. If he were a poker player he'd be the one who is brash, but who can also back it up with the cards!

Ronaldo is one of the favourites to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or award on Monday. However, there is a feeling that important names like UEFA president Michel Platini and Fifa president Sepp Blatter are trying to create a campaign against the 29-year-old. People in such high positions have said that a German player should win this year’s award given that Germany won the World Cup in Brazil.

“I think sometimes drive and ambition of individuals should not be confused as arrogance, and sometimes Cristiano gets that tag on him. He is a bit 'chased' publicly in some way and I do not understand why, but I think this kind of phenomenon happens to him. Cristiano does not get that margin of respect that sometimes Messi does, but you know hopefully this determination and passion has shown that for this time round he deserves to win it,” said Villas-Boas. Ronaldo won the award last year and it was the second of his career.