Cristiano Ronaldo put his enormous talent on display with a hat trick in World Cup qualifying, and the reward may be the Ballon dOr after a voting deadline extension on Wednesday improved his chances of beating out Lionel Messi for the honour. Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. 29. FIFA said it was reopening the deadline due to the low number of responses received by last Fridays original deadline, and invited voters to switch their preference. Ronaldo became the favourite on Wednesday to beat Messi and Bayern Munich forward Franck Ribery for the world player of the year award, which will be presented on Jan. 13. Portuguese and Spanish sports dailies splashed Ronaldos photo across their front pages on Wednesday, when FIFA president Sepp Blatter expressed his congratulations to Ronaldo in a tweet reading "fantastic performance." Ronaldo has scored 13 goals in six games since Blatter said last month that he preferred Messi, an Argentine who plays for Barcelona. Ronaldo has scored 32 goals in all competitions this season. "Every year I show what Im about. Ive scored 40 or 50 goals a season and thats not enough for everyone. Im not obsessed with the (Ballon dOr)," Ronaldo said Tuesday. "I did my job as I have been doing all season. I dont have to answer to anybody. I do my talking on the field." Ronaldo, who won the award in 2008, has watched as Messi has won the award the last four years. But Messi has the edge in trophies over Ronaldo after Barcelona won the Spanish league last season. Ribery helped Bayern win a treble of Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League titles. Blatters slight -- when he said Ronaldo spent more time at the hairdresser and compared his on-field personality to that of a commander -- has seemed to energize the player, who also equaled Pauleta as Portugals record scorer with 47 goals. At the Friends Arena in Sweden, Portuguese fans carried a banner reading "Commander Ronaldo" in response to Blatters comments, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic also appeared to applaud Ronaldos heroics. Ronaldos scoring run comes with Messi sidelined by injury and unable to add to his own collection of awe-inspiring goals. Messi is expected to be out until the end of December because of a hamstring injury. The Barcelona forward said his left leg was pain-free on Wednesday as he collected his third Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals in Europes domestic leagues last season. Messi, who has scored 14 goals in 16 games this season, was not asked about Ronaldos performance or his Ballon dOr prospects during the presentation, when questions were not allowed. Ronaldo will take the field again Saturday when Madrid plays Almeria. Bryce Love Redskins Jersey . - The Detroit Lions have 13 takeaways this season — three less than all of last season — and the defence isnt the only unit pleased with the performance. Joe Theismann Redskins Jersey . It will be their 15th head-to-head meeting and fourth in the post-season (Sunday at 2pm et/11am pt on CTV) and for his part, Brady isnt downplaying just how big the game is for him. "Im excited - Its everything you could ask for as an athlete," the New England Patriots quarterback told WEEI Radio in Boston on Monday. https://www.redskinssportsgoods.com/Wome...nverted-Jersey/. -- League scoring leader Anthony Mantha had two goals and two assists to lead the Val-dOr Foreurs over the Blainville-Boisbriand Phoenix 6-3 on Wednesay in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play on Wednesday. Clinton Portis Jersey . -- Mississippis Andrew Ritter said his game-winning, 41-yard field goal felt good off his foot. Landon Collins Youth Jersey . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night.CHICAGO - Mike Scioscia could sense the opener of the Los Angeles Angels series against the Chicago White Sox would be affected by the storm in the area Monday night. "Im sure were gonna be dealing with some rain at some point," Scioscia said about two hours before the scheduled first pitch. "Whether it impacts the game, I dont know. "I dont know if you ever know in Chicago, do you?" The game was postponed because of rain and rescheduled as part of a traditional doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 4:10 p.m. Angels right-hander Garrett Richards (8-2, 2.76) and Chicagos Hector Noesi (2-4, 4.18) — the scheduled starters Monday — will pitch Game 1, with Los Angeles Jered Weaver (8-6, 3.33) and Scott Carroll (2-4, 4.76) pitching the nightcap. The Angels had been undecided for the series finale on Wednesday, but named left-hander Tyler Skaggs (4-4, 4.34) to pitch that game following the postponement. Skaggs currently is on the disabled list since June 10 with a strained right hamstring. The White Sox will start left-hander John Danks (7-6, 4.26). With the addition of Skaggs, the Angels would have six starters, but Scioscia declined to say what move would be made from there. "Skaggs on Wednesday, and well let you know the rest," he said. "Well get through tomorrow and see where we are." The White Sox thought there would be a window to play Mondays game though the storm was expected to hit the ballpark around game time. It wasnt raining at 7:10, the time of the scheduled first pitch, but the rain bbegan a few minutes later.dddddddddddd The game surprisingly was called after just a 20-minute delay because the forecast changed and the rain was supposed to last longer. The extra time off was probably welcome for Albert Pujols, who is dealing with a groin injury, but was in the lineup Monday at first base. "He feels good," Scioscia said of Pujols. "Its not really anything thats muscular or anything were worried about being a pull. Its really just something . the way it was described our medical staff, its more of a lymph node or just a little infection that got a little irritated. "It shouldnt be anything thats gonna impact what he needs to do." Pujols was in Monday nights starting lineup set to hit third and play first base. NOTES: White Sox 1B Jose Abreu, tied for the MLB lead in homers with 25, has found himself at the centre of Home Run Derby speculation, but the rookie slugger remained mysterious on his possible participation. "Im more concentrated on helping the team right now," he said. ... RHP Fernando Salas (shoulder) threw 25 pitches during a bullpen session Sunday and could be activated as early as Wednesday. "Hes gonna throw a bullpen (Tuesday) and then be evaluated," Scioscia said. "He felt really good after his pen on Sunday." ... Asked before the game whether RHP Jason Grilli, acquired from Pittsburgh on Friday, would be his new closer, Scioscia said: "Well keep Joe Smith there until we get everything sorted out. Jason will be part of our back end and well see." ' ' '