Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or

Real Madrid and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or for a fourth time after beating closest rival and former holder, Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann to world football's top individual prize for 2016 on Monday night.

Ronaldo, 31 had previously won the award in 2008, and in 2013 and 2014 when it was officially the FIFA Ballon d'Or. 

Ronaldo becomes only the second player to win the individual title a total four times, behind record winner Messi who has won it five times in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
Ronaldo conquered Europe in 2016 after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid and the European Championship with Portugal in France, which represents the country's first major football trophy, scoring 51 goals in 54 games for club and country in the process.

Though Messi, 29 won La Liga and the Copa del Rey with Barcelona in 2016 and also lead Argentina to the Copa America Centenario final in 2016, he could not lay his hands on the individual price.

Griezmann, 25 who came third place won the Golden Boot at Euro 2016, where helped France reach the final. He also helped Atletico reached the Champions League final, in 2016 where they lost on penalties to Real Madrid.

Magazine France Football, which has organised the Ballon d'Or award since 1956, earlier this year split with FIFA after a six-year relationship in which they both combined to give the award.