Madrid, Nov 22

Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo is "living a dream" at the Spanish club and sees himself retiring in front of the fans at Santiago Bernabeu.

Ronaldo has been in outstanding form this season after extending his contract with the club and becoming the best paid player in the world in the process.

He explained that he had struggled to adapt to life at Real Madrid, finding it hard to win over the fans in the Santiago Bernabeu, but said that now he was in his fifth season at the club, the fans were fully behind him.

"I didn't feel identified on the pitch in the first years. But I am living a dream now when I go into the Santiago Bernabeu. The fans love me and I feel very good and I want to spend a long time here and see out my contract," Ronaldo told Spanish radio station, Cadena Cope.

"It is possible that I will retire at Real Madrid, but I don't think too much about the future. I like to think more about the present," added the striker, who nevertheless confessed, "the truth is what I feel now is that I want to end my career here, because I am very happy. I love living in Madrid and I can't ask for more."

Ronaldo has so far scored 16 goals in 13 BBVA Primera Liga games and is also top scorer in the Champions League, leading many to believe he is in the best form of his career, although Ronaldo said he is always looking to be better.

"I always think you can improve. My ambition is always to be the best, although maybe you reach a level that is difficult to improve on. Maybe at the moment I am better prepared and it could be one of the best moments in my career. I am in great form and I hope to stay like that until the end of my career," he commented.

Ronaldo's form and especially his hat-trick which qualified Portugal for the World Cup finals, has re-opened the debate over who should win the Ballon d'Or award, which has been won by Lionel Messi for the past four years.

Ronaldo has been virtually unstoppable of late, but could be handicapped by the fact he has not won a single title in 2013, while Messi, despite suffering physical problems, led Barcelona to the league title and Bayern's Frank Ribery, the other great candidate has won the German League Cup, Champions League and European Supercup with Bayern Munich.

The pro-Madrid press in Spain are mounting a strong campaign to see Ronaldo win the award, but the player said whether or not he was chosen was not that important.

"I am not thinking about the Ballon d'Or. I know the award is given in January, but I can't say whether or not I am going to go and I'd rather not say anything over things which don't depend on me. I am not obsessed by the Ballon d'Or," he insisted. 

By:IANS