32-year-old Portugal and Real Madrid ace, Cristiano Ronaldo, on Thursday capped his wonderful year with one of football’s most-priced awards as he became the winner of the Ballon d’Or Award for 2017.
Ronaldo has now equalled his fierce rival, Lionel Messi, who also has won the prestigious award on five occasions.
The Portuguese won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 and had to wait for five years before winning again in 2013.
The Portuguese star won again in 2014 while Messi took it back in 2015 before it returned to the Real Madrid star in 2016 and the latest one coming in 2017.
Messi and Neymar made it to the final three for the 2017 Ballon d’Or.
Speaking shortly after he was announced winner, the Real Madrid forward said, “I feel very happy, it’s a fantastic moment in my career, I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.
“This year has been great, we won the Champions League and LaLiga and, on a personal level, I was a top scorer in the Champions League.
‘Trophies help win these awards and we have to thank my colleagues from Madrid and Portugal, it was very important for me.
“I hope to play at this level for a few more years, I hope the battle with Messi continues, things happen for a reason.
“I feel good this season and we’ll see what we win at the end of the year.
“Neymar has a lot of talent, a lot of potential, and I’m sure he’ll have some chance to win in the future,” he said.
The last ten Ballon d’Or have been shared between Messi and Ronaldo as reflected below
2008: Ronaldo
2009: Messi
2010: Messi
2011: Messi
2012: Messi
2013: Ronaldo
2014: Ronaldo
2015: Messi
2016: Ronaldo
2017: Ronaldo
