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Man United would be desperate without Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah is the best player in the Premier League, insists Rio Ferdinand... but Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi 'can't be in the conversation' for the team of the year

Cristiano Ronaldo's rescue missions for Manchester United and Mohamed Salah's heroics for Liverpool put them ahead of Lionel Messi in the team of the year, Rio Ferdinand has argued – adding that Robert Lewandowski was 'robbed' of a Ballon d'Or.

Former United and England stalwart Ferdinand has been passionately explaining his surprising selections for the FIFA Team of the Year, naming three Chelsea stars and a trio of Manchester City teammates among his choices.

Little more than a month after Paris Saint-Germain hitman Messi won a record seventh Ballon d'Or, though, one of the men who tried to stop him during his phenomenal goalscoring feats for former club Barcelona has argued that Ronaldo's arch-rival is not worthy of making the team of the year.