2017 Ballon d’Or: Cristiano Ronaldo crowned best player for fifth time
The Portuguese and Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo has out-shined Barcelona’s Lionel Messi to win the 2017 Ballon d’Or award for the fifth time.
The football superstar was voted the best player in the world after edging out Lionel Messi and Neymar.
He received the award at a glitzy ceremony up the Eiffel Tower Paris – France on Thursday 7th December 2017.
“This is something I look forward to every year,” the football legend said after receiving the award. “Special thanks to my Real Madrid teammates and I want to thank the rest of the people who helped me reach this level,” he added.
His close rival, 30-year-old Argentine, Messi who won the most recent of his five awards in 2015 was voted second and his ex-Barcelona teammate Neymar, now at Paris St-Germain, was third.
Ronaldo gets the 2017 Ballon d’Or after winning in 2008 2013, 2014 and 2016.
Last season, the 32-year old Ronaldo pushed Real Madrid to victory in the Champions League and the first La Liga title since 2012.
Christiano Ronaldo has also scooped FIFA’s ‘The Best’ award earlier this season in London (2016-17).
He scored twice in a 4-1 Champions League final win over Juventus. In all, he netted 25 times in 29 league games.
Fresh from winning Euro 2016 with Portugal, Ronaldo followed that up with 42 goals in 46 games, making Real Madrid win La Liga, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Ronaldo now joins Messi in winning the trophy five times.
The Ballon d’Or is an award given by FIFA to the best-performing football player around the world annually.
Benly Anchunda