Real Madrid’s Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or 2016 after spending the most successful year in his career.
Published : 13 Dec 2016, 12:11 AM
The 31-year-old forward, who was ahead in the running to win the coveted award for his performance at both club and international levels, now has four titles for the best footballer of the year, following the ones in 2008, 2013 and 2014.
The iconic prize, presented by ‘France Football’ magazine, was awarded to Ronaldo at a ceremony in Paris, after voting by 173 journalists from across the globe.
Ronaldo was absent, however, when the award was handed out. He is currently in Japan with Real for their Club World Cup clash.
The quarterly published a shortlist with 30 players for the award in October, including five-time and last year’s winner Argentine maestro Lionel Messi, his Barcelona wingman, Brazil’s Neymar and Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez - the Catalan club’s top scorer from last season.
Messi also did not travel to Paris to join the ceremony. He will fly to Qatar with his Barcelona teammates for a friendly on Tuesday against the country’s national side.
Atletico Madrid’s French forward Antoine Griezmann was also alongside the big guns in the list for his sparkling performance through the year for club and country. He had won the Golden Boot for scoring six goals in the European Championship this year.
Ronaldo was peerless, however, with his achievements this year.
After winning ‘La Undecima’ in Champions Trophy, the 11th title, with Real, Ronaldo went on to lead the national team to their first Euro glory two months later.
He suffered a knee injury against hosts France in the beginning of the final in Euro, where he scored three goals and made two assists.
After hobbling on the pitch for about 15 minutes more, Ronaldo was stretchered off halfway into the first-half reduced to tears. But his grief was replaced with ecstasy when Portugal sealed their maiden Euro title with a 1-0 win.
He also scored 35 goals and assisted in five others in Real’s last La Liga campaign where Zinedine Zidane’s men finished runners-up behind Barcelona. With a staggering goal tally of 499 in club football, Ronaldo has scored 10 goals so far in the Spanish league this season.
The former Manchester United man is also getting success in Portugal’s World Cup qualifying campaign. He scored seven goals in four outings for Portugal, who are second in Group B in their battle for a spot in the 2018 showcase event in Russia.
Ronaldo and Messi have shared the accolade the last eight times between themselves.
Since its inception in 1956, the award was exclusive to players from Europe until 1994. After that, it was opened up to footballers from around the globe playing in Europe. From 2007, it is being awarded to the best player of the world.
The Ballon d'Or was co-sponsored by FIFA from 2010 to 2015. France Football then ended its six-year association with the governing council of the sport in September.
Originally, the winner was determined through votes from journalists. After FIFA joined in, votes from national team coaches and captains were also included.
But now the casting has returned to its original structure.
Ballon d’Or winners in last 10 years:
2015: Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)
2014: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid)
2013: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid)
2012: Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)
2011: Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)
2010: Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)
2009: Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)
2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Manchester United)
2007: Kaka (Brazil, AC Milan)
2006: Fabio Cannavaro (Italy, Real Madrid/Juventus)