Former Real Madrid player and Ballon d'Or winner Raymond Kopa believes this year's award should go to Barcelona's Andres Iniesta.

The Frenchman believes that Iniesta should win the award due to his crucial interventions at key moments, which allowed his side to win the treble last year.

Speaking to French publication L'Equipe he enthused "Iniesta is the best for me at the moment.

"I would give the Ballon d'Or to him without a question. With [Lionel] Messi in second position.

"It was Iniesta who saved his team on several occasions, it was thanks to him that Barcelona became champions of various competitions.

"Andres is a great player, really great, and in order for Messi to do well, he needs to be well assisted."

Kopa played in the first ever European Cup final in 1956 with Stade Reims, and won three subsequent European Cups with Real Madrid.

He was also the winner of the Ballon d'Or in 1958, and was nominated for the award on a further three occasions.