Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded the 2017 Ballon d’Or in a glitzy ceremony at the Eiffel Tower as the Real Madrid superstar clinched the gong for a fifth time by finishing ahead of Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Ronaldo is now level with Messi on five Ballon d’Ors following a 2016-17 season in which he won the Champions League and La Liga double with Real Madrid.
The 2017 winner was unveiled in a dramatic video which slowly zoomed in on a sparkling Eiffel Tower to reveal Ronaldo.
‘Obviously, I feel upbeat. It’s a pivotal turning point in my carrier,’ Ronaldo said after being given the honor. ‘It’s something I want to win each year. Because of my Real Madrid colleagues. What’s more, I need to thank whatever is left of the general population who helped me achieve this level.’
Ronaldo additionally demonstrated his happy side, kidding when approached what he needed for Christmas: ‘Another child… no it’s a joke, we will appreciate the four of us – I need seven Gold Balls and seven kids.’
Ronaldo was later joined in front of an audience by his mom Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and child Cristiano Ronaldo Jr as his better half Georgina Rodriguez viewed on from the group of onlookers.
Previous Tottenham and Newcastle star David Ginola displayed the show in Paris, with the Brazilian Ronaldo giving help, and gave the honor over at the alluring function in the French capital.
Ronaldo proved to be the best in the function as coordinators France Football uncovered the 32-year-old beat rivalry from the 29 different candidates to win the honor, which is voted in favor of by a gathering of 173 columnists.
Barcelona’s Messi completed as sprinter up to Ronaldo in the seventh sequential year where the whizzes have involved the best two positions in Ballon d’Or voting.
Ronaldo was then joined in front of an audience by his mom Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and child Cristiano Ronaldo Jr on Thursday.
Neymar, who became the world’s most expensive player when he joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona for £198million in August, came third. Juventus’ veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon finished fourth.
The Premier League’s highest placed player was Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante who finished eighth while Tottenham striker Harry Kane just sneaked into the top 10.
HOW THE 30-MAN SHORTLIST FINISHED IN VOTING
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid
2. Lionel Messi – Barcelona
3. Neymar – Paris Saint-Germain
4. Gianluigi Buffon – Juventus
5. Luka Modric – Real Madrid
6. Sergio Ramos – Real Madrid
7. Kylian Mbappe – Paris Saint-Germain
8. N’Golo Kante – Chelsea
9. Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich
10. Harry Kane – Tottenham
11. Edinson Cavani – Paris Saint-Germain
12. Isco – Real Madrid
13. Luis Suarez – Barcelona
14. Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
15. Paulo Dybala – Juventus
16. Marcelo – Real Madrid
17. Toni Kroos – Real Madrid
18. Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid
19. Eden Hazard – Chelsea
20. David De Gea – Manchester United
21. Leonardo Bonucci – Juventus
21= Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Borussia Dortmund
23. Sadio Mane – Liverpool
24. Radamel Falcao – Monaco
25. Karim Benzema – Real Madrid
26. Jan Oblak – Atletico Madrid
27. Mats Hummels – Bayern Munich
28. Edin Dzeko – Roma
29. Dries Mertens – Napolo
29= Philippe Coutinho – Liverpool.
The rest of the English-based players in voting were Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (14th), Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (19th), Manchester United’s David De Gea (20th) and Liverpool duo Sadio Mane (22nd) and Philippe Coutinho (joint-29th).
Ronaldo’s Madrid team-mates were also in the running, with Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos finishing fifth and sixth respectively. Isco (12th), Marcelo (16th), Toni Kroos (17th) and Karim Benzema (25th) rounded off Los Blancos’ seven nominations for the award.
PSG sensation Kylian Mbappe finished seventh in the voting at just 18 years of age. The French striker announced himself to the world while playing Monaco during the 2016-17 campaign.
Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions last season including a brace in the 4-1 Champions League final victory over Juventus in May, which saw Madrid become the first team ever to successfully defend the title.
