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Cristiano Ronaldo WINS Ballon d'Or: Real Madrid star targets FIFTH triumph in 2017
CRISTIANO RONALDO has won the Ballon d'Or for a fourth time - beating Lionel Messi to the crown of football's player of the year.
A look back on Ronaldo's INCREDIBLE tricks and goals
Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or
Cristiano Ronaldo was nominated alongside Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann for the prestigious award.
The Real Madrid forward helped his side win the Champions League this year, while he was the star man in Portugal's run to Euro 2016 glory.
Ronaldo was expected to win the award after his victory was supposedly leaked this morning.
Le vainqueur du Ballon d'Or France Football 2016 : CRISTIANO RONALDO #ballondor pic.twitter.com/IP5J2s7pqk
— France Football (@francefootball) December 12, 2016
"I never thought in my mind to win four times the Golden Ball, so I am so pleased and so happy," Ronaldo said.
"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."
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2016 Ballon d'Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann
Ronaldo came second in the 2015 Ballon d'Or
I feel so proud and happy to receive this amazing and beautiful ball
Ballon d'Or winner leaked
A mock-up of the front page of tomorrow's France Football - the magazine that runs the Ballon d'Or - was shared on social media, showing Ronaldo holding the trophy and an in-depth interview with the star.
Ronaldo first won the Ballon d'Or in 2008 when he helped Manchester United win the Premier League title.
Ronaldo and Marta (left) won the men's and women's player of the year awards in 2008
Ronaldo helped Portugal win Euro 2016 this summer
Ronaldo will turn 32 in February but believes he is capable of winning the Ballon d'Or again next year.
"It is important for me, I will try my best, like I do every year. It is a new challenge," he said.
"I love to play football, so I will try my best to win for Real Madrid first, because it is my team, for the national team to win again if it is possible, we know that it is very, very difficult, and to win it (Ballon d'Or) again next year.
"I will try my best, work hard as always and I will enjoy this moment because it is not easy to win this."
Lionel Messi missed out on winning the Ballon d'Or
Antoine Griezmann was voted the third best player in the world
Luis Suarez was fourth on the list
Wales star Gareth Bale was the highest-ranked Brit on the list
Leicester stars in top 10
Ronaldo was named world player of the year in 2013 and 2014 when FIFA was associated with the award.
France Football reclaimed full 'control' of the Ballon d'Or this year, which sees the nominees voted by football journalists rather than fellow players and managers.
Luis Suarez (4) missed out to Griezmann (3) for third place, while Suarez's Barcelona team-mate Neymar was fifth.
Leicester pair Jamie Vardy (9) and Riyad Mahrez (7) made the top 10 on the list, with Wales' Gareth Bale (6) this highest-ranked Brit.
Manchester United duo Paul Pogba (14) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (13) also came in in the top 20, while Dimitri Payet was named joint-17th alongside Toni Kroos and Luca Modric.
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