Cristiano Ronaldo says he will attend FIFA's Ballon d'Or gala next week, when the Real Madrid forward has a chance to win the world player of the year award for a second time.

The Portugal star had wavered on whether he would attend the award ceremony on Jan. 13, but he now says "I can only say that I am going to the gala."

Ronaldo is a finalist along with Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich. Ronaldo won the award in 2008, but he has watched Messi claim it for the past four years.