Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said yesterday he would vote if he could for national captain Iker Casillas to win this year’s award for the world’s best player.

“I would give it to Casillas,” Rajoy said when asked who he would support if he could vote for FIFA’s Ballon d’Or.

The prime minister recalled Casillas’s role in Spain’s World Cup victory and consecutive Euro wins, and his role in Real Madrid’s past UEFA Champions League success.

“Being a goalkeeper in a football team is very difficult,” Rajoy told reporters.

The Spanish leader praised other contenders this year such as the favourite Barcelona striker Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo and central defender Sergio Ramos.

“But if I had to vote, I would vote Casillas,” Rajoy said.

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