Cristiano Ronaldo Won Fourth Ballon d'Or 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo beat rival Lionel Messi to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for the fourth time. The Real Madrid forward helped his club to win last season's Champions League and as well helped Portugal won Euro 2016 as the Captain of the national team in France.

The former Manchester United forward have only one behind the Barcelona's Argentina forward Lionel Messi who has won it five times. The award has been shared between the two most famous forwards in the world for past nine years in a roll.

For Ronaldo he claimed the award in 2008, 2013, 2014 and now 2016 with Messi won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015.

He said "I never thought in my mind that I would with the Golden Ball four times. I am pleased. I feel so proud and happy, 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." 

Below is the voting list for the award for the top 10

1 Cristiano Ronaldo 

2 Lionel Messi
3 Antoine Griezmann

4 Luis Suarez
5 Neymar
6 Gareth Bale
7 Riyad Mahrez
8 Jamie Vardy
=9 Pepe
=9 Gianluigi Buffon
11 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

173 journalists from around the world voted for the Ballon d'Or award. It has been awarded by France Football every year since 1956, but for the past six years FIFA came in and got associated with the award and changed the name to FIFA Ballon d'Or Award giving to world's best player.

However, FIFA ended its association with the award in September. FIFA will now gives out its own award for the world's best men's player, best women's player and team of the year award at the Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in Zurich on 9th January 2017.

Past Winners of Ballon d'Or from 2000

YEAR         WINNER               NATIONALITY           CLUB

2016            Cristiano Ronaldo           Portugal                   Real Madrid
2015            Lionel Messi                   Argentina                  FC Barcelona
2014            Cristiano Ronaldo           Portugal                   Real Madrid
2013            Cristiano Ronaldo           Portugal                   Real Madrid
2012            Lionel Messi                   Argentina                  FC Barcelona
2011            Lionel Messi                   Argenti                      FC Barcelona
2010            Lionel Messi                   Argentina                  FC Barcelona
2009            Lionel Messi                   Argentina                  FC Barcelona
2008            Cristiano Ronaldo           Portugal                   Manchester United
2007            Kaká                               Brazil                        AC Milan
2006            Fabio Cannavaro             Italy                         Real Madrid/Juventus
2005            Ronaldinho                     Brazil                        FC Barcelona
2004            Andriy Shevchenko         Ukraine                    AC Milan
2003            Pavel Nedvěd                  Czech Republic      Juventus
2002            Ronaldo                          Brazil                        Real Madrid
2001            Michael Owen                 England                   Liverpool
2000            Luís Figo                        Portugal                    Real Madrid