Former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Cristiano Ronaldo will play at the highest level for some time yet.

The 31-year-old Portugal striker won his fourth Ballon d’Or title on Monday and Ancelotti insists that his former talisman deserves as much praise as his arch-rival Lionel Messi gets.

Ronaldo was a deserved winner of the award after winning the Champions League before helping Portugal to their first piece on major international silverware at Euro 2016.

‘I don’t know when he’ll keep going until, but I don’t think he’s that old,’ the Bayern boss told Spanish outlet AS.

‘Playing in a more advanced position could have an influence. He’s now playing more centrally and with time he’ll have to drop deep less often and stay in a more advanced position.

‘I think he’ll keep up this high level for three or four years.’

Ancelotti, who coached Ronaldo as Madrid won the Champions League in 2014, wants the Portguese superstar to be recognised on the same level as his Argentinian counterpart.

‘I think it’s deserved, because Ronaldo won the Champions League and the European Championships,’ Ancelotti said.

‘He’s performed better than the rest this year and the award is a logical one.

‘For many this is the era of Messi, but it’s also the era of Cristiano. The competition between them has improved them. Messi is better because he’s had Cristiano, and Cristiano is better because he’s had Messi.

‘Without doubt he can [add to his collection] over the next two or three years. Like Messi. The rest will still have to wait, although we can help some of them as a team, such as [Robert] Lewandowski for example, if we win lots of trophies.’

Ronaldo is now just one Ballon d’Or title behind Messi despite the Barcelona star outscoring Ronaldo by seven goals and providing a substantial amount of assists more than his Madrid rival.

Messi’s inability to lead Argentina to Copa America glory is believed to be the main reason behind his second-place finish in this year’s voting.