European champion Cristiano Ronaldo has been rewarded for his outstanding year with the Ballon d’Or 2016. The 31 year old has won this year’s edition, which was solely organised by magazine France Football for the first time since 2009, as 173 journalists from all over the world cast their vote for who they thought was the world’s best player in 2016.
The Real Madrid man has won the award three times previously (2008, 2013, 2014) and this year also came out on top in the voting after performing incredibly with both club and country. His club team Real Madrid won club football’s most prestigious trophy, the Champions League, in May, while he captained his home nation Portugal as they triumphed in the European Championships two months later. At the end of August, Ronaldo was given the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, and he is also favourite to win FIFA’s The Best trophy. The winner of which we will find out on the 9th of January next year.
Kroos comes 17th
Ronaldo’s club teammate Toni Kroos came 17th place in this year’s award, while Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller were also on the list of nominees.
The Ballon d’Or has been given to the world’s best player since 1956. Initially, only European players could be nominated, until 1995 when the rules were changed so that all players playing for a European club could be nominated. In 2007, the rules were changed again, meaning any professional footballer, no matter which league they play in or their nationality, were able to win. Between 2010 and 2015, FIFA organised the award with France Football. Last year’s winner Lionel Messi, who has a record five Ballon d’Or, was second favourite behind the eventual winner. The Argentine experienced a relatively quiet year by his standards, winning only the Spanish championship with his club, Barcelona.
European champion Cristiano Ronaldo has been rewarded for his outstanding year with the Ballon d’Or 2016. The 31 year old has won this year’s edition, which was solely organised by magazine France Football for the first time since 2009, as 173 journalists from all over the world cast their vote for who they thought was the world’s best player in 2016.
The Real Madrid man has won the award three times previously (2008, 2013, 2014) and this year also came out on top in the voting after performing incredibly with both club and country. His club team Real Madrid won club football’s most prestigious trophy, the Champions League, in May, while he captained his home nation Portugal as they triumphed in the European Championships two months later. At the end of August, Ronaldo was given the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, and he is also favourite to win FIFA’s The Best trophy. The winner of which we will find out on the 9th of January next year.
Kroos comes 17th
Ronaldo’s club teammate Toni Kroos came 17th place in this year’s award, while Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller were also on the list of nominees.
The Ballon d’Or has been given to the world’s best player since 1956. Initially, only European players could be nominated, until 1995 when the rules were changed so that all players playing for a European club could be nominated. In 2007, the rules were changed again, meaning any professional footballer, no matter which league they play in or their nationality, were able to win. Between 2010 and 2015, FIFA organised the award with France Football. Last year’s winner Lionel Messi, who has a record five Ballon d’Or, was second favourite behind the eventual winner. The Argentine experienced a relatively quiet year by his standards, winning only the Spanish championship with his club, Barcelona.
