Lionel Messi is the hot favourite to win his sixth Ballon d'Or award on Monday evening.

If leaks are to believed, the Argentine footballer will regain the trophy he last won in 2015.

And in the process he will overtake eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo in Ballon d'Or awards.

Ronaldo has had a superb year himself, guiding Juventus to Serie A glory as well as winning the UEFA Nations League with Portugal.

However, on a personal note, he hasn't had his best year.

For that reason, Ronaldo is only third favourite to win his sixth Ballon d'Or, behind Virgil van Dijk and Messi.

There have been a lot of questions whether he will bother attending the ceremony on Monday night.

Ronaldo didn't turn up to the FIFA 'Best' awards in September after he wasn't confirmed as a winner.

It was later revealed he skipped the awards night due to Juventus' gruelling fixture pile-up.

And, if reports are to be believed, the Portuguese superstar has decided not to attend the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris.

According to sportmediaset, Ronaldo heard he did not even get on the podium and thus declined the invite.

Instead, Ronaldo is expected to attend the Gran Galà Del Calcio tonight in Milan, where he is due to receive a Serie A-related award.

Earlier this year Ronaldo expressed his belief that he deserved more Ballon d'Or awards than Messi.

"Messi’s in the history of football,” Ronaldo told Piers Morgan in September, per the Independent.

“But I think I have to have six or seven or eight to be above him. I’d love it, I think I deserve it.”

It seems Ronaldo could not bare to watch his rival go ahead of him in Ballon d'Or titles once more.