Cristiano Ronaldo crowned 2016 Ballon d'Or winner

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 12 December 2016

Portugal and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is crowned 2016 Ballon d'Or winner - the fourth time he has earned the prestigious accolade.

Portugal and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has won the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for a fourth time to cap an impressive 2016 for club and country.

The 31-year-old guided Los Blancos to last season's Champions League crown and also bagged three goals during his country's run to their memorable Euro 2016 triumph.

Ronaldo, who also won the individual accolade in 2008, 2013 and 2014, pipped Barcelona ace - and five-time winner - Lionel Messi in this year's voting, which is decided by 173 journalists from across the world.

All in all, Ronaldo found the net 54 times last season and is already up and running this term with 19 in 20 appearances for club and country, but was not around to receive his latest award in person as he is in Japan preparing for the Club World Cup.

In what was another prolific calendar year for the Madrid ace, his three goals at the European Championship finals in the summer made him the all-time leading scorer in the competition alongside French great Michel Platini with nine.

Ronaldo, also now Portugal's most-capped player of all time, was directly involved in 39 of Los Blancos' league goals across 30 games and has helped the Spanish giants to the top of the La Liga standings.

The confirmed top five was announced more than an hour after Ronaldo accepted his award, with Neymar, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and Messi all narrowly missing out.

Leicester City duo Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy finished seventh and eighth respectively, meanwhile, and Welshman Gareth Bale finished in sixth place.