Cristiano Ronaldo Pips Lionel Messi To Win His Fourth Ballon d’Or 1

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or for the fourth time after beating off competition from bitter rival Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann. He had previously won the title in 2008, 2013 and 2014.In a year that saw him winning the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid before leading Portugal to the European Glory in France, the Portuguese international was the firm favourite to bag the biggest individual award in the game.

In a year that saw him winning the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid before leading Portugal to the European Glory in France, the Portuguese international was the firm favourite to bag the biggest individual award in the game.

Here are the full rankings.

1: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

2: Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ Argentina)

3: Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/ France)

4: Luis Suarez (Barcelona/ Uruguay)

5: Neymar (Barcelona/ Brazil)

6. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid / Wales)

7. Riyad Mahrez (Leicester / Algeria)

8. Jamie Vardy (Leicester / England)

9. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus / Italy) and Pepe (Real Madrid / Portugal)

11. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund / Gabon)

12. Rui Patricio (Sporting CP / Portugal)

13. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United / Sweden)

14. Paul Pogba (Manchester United / France) and Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich / Chile)

16. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich / Poland)

17. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid / Germany), Luka Modric (Real Madrid / Croatia) and Dimitri Payet (West Ham / France)

30 (No votes from the shortlist) Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, Paulo Dybala, Diego Godin, Gonzalo Higuain, Andres Iniesta, Koke, Hugo Lloris, Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer and Sergio Ramos.

Delighted to reclaim the award, the 31-year old, who could not attend the award ceremony in France because he is in Japan, for his club’s Club World Cup semi-final against Club America said: “I never imagined winning this trophy four times. I’m really happy and fulfilled.”

“When it’s the first time the emotion is always special. But I feel today like I did in 2008.

“I have the opportunity to thank all of my team-mates, the national team, Real Madrid, all of the people who helped me to win this individual award.
“I’m so proud and happy to receive this amazing and beautiful ball,” he concluded.

The Los Blancos star has now become the European player with most Ballon d’Or trophies. He left behind Marco van Basten, Michel Platini and Johan Cruyff who had won the award thrice.

Ronaldo is now one title behind Messi, who took the honour for the fifth time last year. This is the eighth consecutive year in which either Ronaldo or Messi have bagged the award.