Nadal: Xavi will win the Fifa Ballon d'Or

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal hopes that Barcelona playmaker Xavi will win the 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or. Xavi was nominated alongside team-mate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, and Nadal would be very pleased to see his compatriot win the award after coming third in 2009 and 2010. "I hope that Xavi wins the Ballon d'Or. As I'm Spanish I have to say Xavi. He has had an incredible career and he deserves it, even though the others are extraordinary footballers as well," Nadal said to Sport. Nadal went on to discuss the upcoming Clasico on December 10 and he expects an even game between Barcelona and Real Madrid. "I'll definitely watch the match. It's a date you can't miss. I like sport and this case, football. I don't know what will happen in the match. I think it will be an even match between the two teams that for me, are the best in the world at the moment. It couldn't be a better occasion. "Madrid are having a great season, they are doing really well. Barca have had a few injuries but now they have practically got all of their players back and they are also playing great football and scoring lots of goals. So it will be a very interesting game and we'll see what happens."