Paris: Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded the Ballon d’Or for ‘World player of the Year’ here in a glittering function Thursday evening for a joint-record fifth time, going level with eternal rival and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi as the player to have won the prize the most times.
The Real Madrid forward won the award, handed out by magazine ‘France Football’, for the second consecutive year having led his side to the La Liga title with 25 goals and a successive Champions League crown, netting 12 goals including two in the 4-1 win over Juventus in the final. He collected the trophy at the Eiffel Tower, presented by former France player David Ginola.
“I feel very happy, it’s a fantastic moment in my career,” Ronaldo said upon collecting the award, standing with his mother Maria Dolores and his oldest son Cristiano (Jr).
“I’ve waited a long time for this. This has been a stupendous year for me, we won the Champions League and La Liga and on a personal level I was top scorer in the Champions League. Trophies help me win prizes like this and I have to thank my teammates at Madrid and Portugal. They’ve been very important to me,” added the player.
Messi came second while Paris St Germain forward Neymar Jr, the most expensive player in the world, came third; veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon finished fourth and Real midfielder Luka Modric came fifth.
Ronaldo, who this year also helped the national side qualify for the World Cup in Russia next year, won his first Ballon d‘Or in 2008 while with Manchester United and collected it again in 2013, 2014 and 2016. The 32-year-old was last month named the ‘Best FIFA Men’s Player’ in the global soccer body’s own awards ceremony.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez joined Ronaldo on stage and paid tribute to the Portuguese, who he said was the best player of all time alongside club great, the late Alfredo di Stefano.
“This fifth Ballon d’Or is a great honour and a great achievement for the club and Real Madrid fans around the world. Cristiano is the best player in the world, he represents the values of Real Madrid. Cristiano is the best player in history along with Di Stefano, he is his heir,” Perez stated.
Success story
Year Club
2008 Manchester United
2013 Real Madrid
2014 Real Madrid
2016 Real Madrid
2017 Real Madrid
Backing son
Paris: Cristiano Ronaldo said Thursday that his son wants to emulate him and also win the Ballon d’Or, after the Real Madrid forward won it for the fifth time. He said that his son had told him that he will be a better footballer than dad. “I see a bit of myself in him (Cristiano Ronaldo Jr), and not only because he’s my son,” the Portuguese captain was quoted as saying by ‘Marca’. “He told me he will be better than me. He tells me he will win a Ballon d’Or and that he can win five,” Ronaldo added.
Reuters
