Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or for a fourth time on Monday night, beating Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann to world football's top individual prize for 2016.
Ronaldo, who previously won the award in 2008 as well as in 2013 and
2014, when it was officially the FIFA Ballon d'Or, is only the second
player to win it a total of four times, trailing only Messi's record of
five.
The honour caps a memorable year that saw Ronaldo win the Champions
League with Real Madrid and the European Championship with Portugal --
the country's first major footballing silverware.
"It is a special moment. It means that all my sacrifice was worth it.
I feel very happy to win this. I worked very hard," Ronaldo said in
accepting the award.
"A lot of people helped me get here, and it is not easy to get here.
You can count on one hand players who maintain this level year after
year. I am one of them, and that is a source of pride for me."
Real Madrid are preparing to take on Club America in the semifinals of the Club World Cup in Japan.
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or for a fourth time
on Monday night, beating Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid's
Antoine Griezmann to world football's top individual prize for 2016.
Ronaldo, who previously won the award in 2008 as well as in 2013 and
2014, when it was officially the FIFA Ballon d'Or, is only the second
player to win it a total of four times, trailing only Messi's record of
five.
The honour caps a memorable year that saw Ronaldo win the Champions
League with Real Madrid and the European Championship with Portugal --
the country's first major footballing silverware.
"It is a special moment. It means that all my sacrifice was worth it.
I feel very happy to win this. I worked very hard," Ronaldo said in
accepting the award.
"A lot of people helped me get here, and it is not easy to get here.
You can count on one hand players who maintain this level year after
year. I am one of them, and that is a source of pride for me."
Real Madrid are preparing to take on Club America in the semifinals of the Club World Cup in Japan.
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