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Diego Simeone backs Diego Costa for Ballon d'Or

By , Football Editor
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone claims that Diego Costa should be a candidate for the Ballon d'Or next year.

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone believes that Diego Costa should be a candidate for the Ballon d'Or next year.

The Spanish international has scored 34 times in all competitions this season, with that run of form helping Atletico into the semi-finals of the Champions League and top of the La Liga table.

While Simeone believes that his leading scorer can improve, the Argentine has backed the forward to be "among the candidates" for next year's Ballon d'Or.

"Costa has room for improvement. He's rebellious and I like that. Hopefully he doesn't stop growing," he told Onda Cero.

"It depends on what he wants to do. Today, he's among the candidates for the Ballon d'Or."

Costa is currently nursing an injured leg, but is expected to be fit for Friday's La Liga clash against Elche.

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Head coach Diego Simeone of Atletico de Madrid congratulates goal-scorer Diego Costa during a La Liga match on October 27, 2013
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1Real Madrid22154350212949
2Atletico MadridAtletico22146237142348
3Barcelona22143560243645
4Athletic Bilbao21117331181340
5Villarreal22107544331137
6Rayo Vallecano228862624232
7Osasuna227962731-430
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10Real Sociedad2284101819-128
11Real BetisBetis217772326-328
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15Las PalmasLas Palmas2165102634-823
16Leganes225891930-1123
17Espanyol2265112133-1223
18AlavesAlaves2256112534-921
19Valencia2247112237-1519
20Real ValladolidValladolid2243151547-3215
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