Ronaldo Wins Ballon d'Or for the 4th Time

 Portugal international, Cristiano Ronaldo wins 2016 Ballon d'Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann as Real Madrid star picks up award for a fourth time in his football career.

 

Portugal and Real Madrid superstar forward, Cristiano Ronaldo capped a brilliant year by being named as the winner of the 2016 Ballon d'Or for a 4th time in Paris on Monday night.

 According to Dailymail, he topped the poll of 173 journalists worldwide to take home France Football magazine's coveted award, taking the majority vote despite his absence while he prepares for the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

 

Ronaldo was joined by his mother Maria and his son Cristiano Junior at the 2015 event

 

In doing so he beat the likes of perennial rival, Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann, who finished second and third respectively.  Ronaldo, who moves to within one of Messi's record five Ballon d'Or wins, he also moves clear of 3-time winners, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini and the late Johan Cruyff.

 

 

The 31-year-old, who was not there to collect the award in person due to Real Madrid's Japan commitments, described his latest triumph as 'a dream come true.'

"I never imagined winning this trophy four times,' the former Manchester United man said. 'I'm really happy and fulfilled. When it's the first time, the emotion is always special. But I 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 and players who helped me to win this individual award. As you can imagine I feel so proud and happy to receive this amazing and beautiful ball, I am so happy."

 

2016 BALLON D'OR RESULT

 

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Real Madrid) 

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina / Barcelona) 

3. Antoine Griezmann (France / Atletico Madrid) 

4. Luis Suarez (Uruguay / Barcelona) 

5. Neymar (Brazil / Barcelona) 

6. Gareth Bale (Wales / Real Madrid) 

7. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria / Leicester City) 

8. Jamie Vardy (England / Leicester City)  

9. Pepe (Portugal / Real Madrid) 

9. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy / Juventus) 

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

12. Rui Patricio (Portugal / Sporting Lisbon) 

13. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden / Manchester United) 

14. Arturo Vidal (Chile / Bayern Munich) 

14. Paul Pogba (France / Manchester United) 

16. Robert Lewandowski (Poland / Bayern Munich) 

17. Dimitri Payet (France / West Ham) 

18. Luka Modric (Croatia / Real Madrid) 

19. Toni Kroos (Germany / Real Madrid)

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