Real’s French coach Zinedine Zidane is unlikely to take any chances on his captain’s fitness on Thursday with a possible final just three days later

Cristiano Ronaldo had very little time to celebrate yesterday after capturing a fourth Ballon d’Or as Real Madrid got down to Club World Cup business in Japan.
The 31-year-old was presented with an edible version of the golden globe and a healthy plate of berries by captain Sergio Ramos before the team hit the training pitch for tomorrow’s semi-final in Yokohama. Ramos, who looks set to sit out the game with fatigue, posted a photo of himself and Ronaldo at the team’s hotel on Twitter with the message: “Congratulations, Cristiano. You deserve it.”
Ronaldo closed on rival Lionel Messi’s record five awards after a stunning year in which he helped Real become European champions for the 11th time and led Portugal to the European Championship title.But he was back to bossing his teammates around in Yokohama yesterday evening as the Spanish giants — who are chasing a second world title in three years — limbered up for their test against Mexico’s Club America.
“We are doing a good job,” said Ramos, who has been instrumental in table-topping Real’s club record 35-game unbeaten run.
“We’ve got a better understanding with each other and we’re on the same wavelength,” added the central defender, who has chipped in with late goals against bitter rivals Barcelona and Deportivo la Coruna in recent weeks.
“The team is reaping the benefits of that,” he told the FIFA website. “We want a happy ending to what’s been a good year for us. We’d like to get (the title) back as we had to pass it on last year.”
Ramos, who was famously involved in a Twitter row with Barcelona defender Gerard Pique last year which continued while their Catalan rivals were in the Far East for the Club World Cup, has yet to train in Japan.
Real’s French coach Zinedine Zidane is unlikely to take any chances on his captain’s fitness on Thursday with a possible final just three days later.
“The Club World Cup gives us the chance to test ourselves against other styles of play we’re perhaps not so used to,” said Ramos. “We have new goals to achieve, and new records to break. There are always new challenges.”
Zidane is already missing Gareth Bale as the Welshman recovers from ankle surgery, although he has been boosted by the return of Toni Kroos from a broken metatarsal.