Paris - Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or award for the fourth time, capping a season in which his Portugal side won Euro 2016 and his club, Real Madrid, took the Champions League.
Paris – Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or award for the fourth time, capping a season in which his Portugal side won Euro 2016 and his club, Real Madrid, took the Champions League.
“A great honour to receive my fourth golden ball,” Ronaldo said upon receiving the award at the Bernabéu. “The emotion is like the first one. It’s the dream come true again. I never thought in my mind to win the golden ball four times so I’m so pleased and happy.”
Ronaldo is now one short of his Barcelona rival Lionel Messi’s record tally of five. Messi finished second this time, while Atlético Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann came third.
Real beat Atletico in May to become European champions for a record 11th time, with Ronaldo playing a crucial role. Two months later Portugal triumphed at Euro 2016 in France to lift a major trophy for the first time.
Ronaldo has scored 48 goals in 52 games for club and country in 2016.
The award was handed out by France Football magazine separately from Fifa.
