LYON, FRANCE - JULY 06: Portugal player Cristiano Ronaldo in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 semi final between Wales and Portugal at Stade des Lumieres on July 6, 2016 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo beat out Lionel Messi to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or for a fourth time on Monday night.
The 31-year-old Portuguese is now one Ballon d’Or behind Barcelona’s Messi, who won his fifth last year.
Atletico Madrid’s French forward, 25-year-old star Antoine Griezmann, finished third in voting.
Ronaldo has told France Football he thinks he could have won the Ballon d’Or more times than Messi had they played on the same team, but called his rival “a great player.”
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The Real Madrid star added recent allegations of tax evasion “spoiled” him winning world soccer’s top individual prize for 2016.
Ronaldo helped Real win last season’s Champions League and scored three goals to lead Portugal to win Euro 2016. He left the Euro 2016 final against hosts France after just 25 minutes due to injury, but remained on the sideline offering encouragement.
He has now won the Ballon d’Or in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2016. Messi won his first one in 2009.
“I never thought in my mind that I would win the Golden Ball four times. I am pleased. I feel so proud and happy,” said Ronaldo at the ceremony in Zurich. “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.”
The former Manchester United forward has scored 19 goals in 20 games for club and country this year, in addition to the 54 he had last season.
Other players who finished in the top 10 in Ballon d’Or voting are Barcelona’s Luis Suarez and Neymar (fourth and fifth, respectively), and Real’s Gareth Bale and Pepe (sixth and ninth, respectively). Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy and riyad Mahrez finished eighth and seventh, respectively.
LYON, FRANCE – JULY 06: Portugal player Cristiano Ronaldo in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 semi final between Wales and Portugal at Stade des Lumieres on July 6, 2016 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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