Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested that leaving the pitch during a game due to racial abuse is not the answer.

AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng made a stand by walking off the field during a friendly against Pro Patria in Italy last week but Ronaldo believes that abandoning the game will not help tackle the problem.

"You cannot simply walk off," the Daily Mail quotes Ronaldo as saying. "I think this cannot happen in this moment in football because over time, FIFA, UEFA always speak about fair play and against racism.

"And why is this still happening? It's incredible. This is going to give more power for the racists, the whites against blacks. We should live in peace, all of us. We have to cope with this kind of audience in the stadium."

Meanwhile, the Portugal captain missed out on collecting the Ballon d'Or once again after Barcelona's Lionel Messi won the award for a record consecutive fourth time.