Serie A’s first Ballon d’Or winner Gianni Rivera claims that Andrea Pirlo deserves this year’s award as much as Milan teammate Kaka.

Brazilian ace Kaka is the overwhelming favourite to claim the European Footballer of the Year prize after his heroics in last season’s Champions League triumph.

Pirlo is an outsider to clinch the silverware, but 1969’s winner believes that the Azzurri star would be a worthy winner.

“Kaka is one of the most exciting and important players of a generation,” Rivera told Sky Calcio.

“But Pirlo is a player who has consistently achieved great things and I would say that he is just as good.”

Rivera also stated that, like Ronaldo, he can see Milan overcoming their dismal start to win the Scudetto.

“I think that they can still win the title even if it is more difficult than it was at the start of the season and it is clear that the Club World Cup and the Champions League will take their toll,” he maintained.

Finally, the former Milan hero gave his view on the thorny issue of controversial refereeing decisions.

“The fact that sides like Milan are complaining is positive because it means that they are human errors,” he claimed.

“I remember the 1971-72 season when we lost the title due to a very debatable penalty.

“It was the final straw and at the end of the game I made some strong accusations that earned me a ban for two months.

“There will always be mistakes and we need to avoid reading anything into them.”