News
LUN 12.12.2016
Cristiano Ronaldo is once again the best footballer in the world, having been named the winner of the 2016 Ballon d'Or, which is awarded by prestigious magazine France Football. The Portuguese star came out on top of the voting ahead of FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann.
The Portugal international, who dazzles and delights for Real Madrid every week in LaLiga Santander, has been the leader on the pitch for Los Blancos for yet another year. The 31-year-old's attributes have been on display throughout 2016 and once again earned the forward one of the game's most celebrated individual accolades.
Ronaldo made a fine start to the 2016/17 season with Real Madrid lifting the UEFA Super Cup, on the back of a campaign in which the Portuguese star led the way in the various competitions that the club competed in. 35 goals in 36 LaLiga Santander games was a fine return for a special goalscorer who is capable of finding the back of the net at any moment.
Ballon d'or France Football 2016 winner : CRISTIANO RONALDO#ballondor pic.twitter.com/ECa0u3L6EK
— France Football (@francefootball) December 12, 2016
Another considerable achievement came in the UEFA Champions League, where Real Madrid got their hands on the European Cup for a record eleventh time. The Madeira-born star was the top goalscorer in Europe's premier club competition with 16 goals in just 12 outings, and also played a pivotal role in the final, scoring the winning penalty in the shoot-out.
Ronaldo's biggest feat of all, however, came with Portugal at UEFA Euro 2016, where he guided his country to major tournament glory for the very first time. The Madeiran left his mark with three goals and three assists, proving once again that no competition is out of his reach.
This latest triumph is the player's fourth Ballon d'Or to date, having won it for the first time while at Manchester United in 2008, followed by back-to-back individual successes in 2013 and 2014 at Real Madrid. The accolade will sit proudly alongside his 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year award and the European Golden Shoe in 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2015.
© LALIGA - 2016