Falcao keeps his feet on the ground

Ballon d’Or nominee Radamel Falcao has quashed comparisons made between himself, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Atletico Madrid goalscoring machine has scored more than 100 goals for his current club and Porto combined over the past three seasons but the Colombian insists he has not changed a bit.

“I don’t think about this particular time I’m living in. I keep the same ambition, desire and will than when I didn’t play in Europe,” Falcao told Goal.com.

“I haven’t changed. I know that I’m enjoying a good run but I don’t put pressure on myself. I don’t think about the competence I have with other players. I sleep well, believe me.

“I felt both happiness and pride (at the Ballon d’Or nomination). The nomination reflects all the hard work I’ve done for years. It means a lot to me because I worked hard to make this team play a big role out there.

“Good results have spread my popularity and made my work well recognised. I thank God that the team’s work has led me to the Ballon d’Or nomination.

“To be rated so highly by some football managers and colleagues, it’s a great joy. It is also a great responsibility since currently there are many good strikers. It means a lot to be among the best.”

Falcao’s scintillating run of form included the passage to last year’s winning Europa League campaign, where he scored 12 goals en route to the final.

The 26-year-old then went on to win the European Super Cup after he bagged a hat-trick against Chelsea in an impressive 4-1 win.

While Falcao’s reputation in Europe is certainly on the rise, his global stock would certainly gain a healthy kick were Colombia to continue their recent impressive form and qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Jose Pekerman’s side currently sit third in the South American standings, leading them to the eighth ranking in the world.

“Yes, I feel (we are improving). We have had an improvement in results,” he said.

“Since Jose Pekerman’s appointment we have freed our mind. We’ve climbed in the World Cup qualification table thanks to some important victories.

“Having said this, there’s a long way to go and there are some crucial games left. We have to carry on this way and, if we keep on gaining points, will end up nicely. But we cannot relax.

“We are mainly focused in the qualifiers. Fortunately we have a group of great players who are also important for their clubs. If we qualify for the World Cup it will come in the right time for us in terms of age.

“We have faith and will. We don’t want to set ourselves any limits. First of all I hope we qualify for Brazil 2014 and after that we will dream about the World Cup.”