Real Madrid and Portugal’s man main, Cristiano Ronaldo, won the Ballon d’Or golden boot for the fourth time after scoring 48 goals in 52 games and winning Champions League and European Championships honours.
Back in the 90s, we all wanted to be Diego Maradona when the jumpers came off. These days all the kids want to be Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
Football fans are living in an unbelievable age. While I believe the games are getting tougher due to the advancements in tactics and the financial pressure that comes with turning your football club into a business, we get to watch two of the greatest players in the history of the game battle it out for supremacy. They are football’s version of Batman versus Superman.
And as the pair once again topped the betting order for the 2016 Ballon d’Or we were all waiting in anticipation to see which superhero was going to be triumphant.
The Ballon d’Or is Back in Familiar Hands
The 2016 award was the first time in six years that FIFA has not had their dirty mitts over the trophy. Instead, management of the event returned to France Football magazine who started issuing the award back in 1956.
In the time since FIFA organised things, only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the thing. Before last night’s ceremony, Ronaldo was tying with Marco van Basten, Michel Platini and the late Johan Cruyff as a three-time award winner. Lionel Messi was out in front with five awards, including the reigning champ.
But this year there was no contest.
It Was a One Horse Race
When you win the Champions League and European Championships scoring 48 goals in 52 games, there can only be one winner.
173 journalists voted Cristiano Ronaldo the 2016 Ballon d’Or winner for the fourth time in his career. Lionel Messi was second, and Antoine Griezmann was third.
Ronaldo dragged Portugal over the winning line in France in much the same way Maradona did in 86. They were a poor, poor side and without his three goals and positive influence throughout the squad, even when injured in the final, they wouldn’t have had a chance.
And he is only 31.
There will be more of these awards.
“I never thought in my mind that I would win the Golden Ball four times,” said Ronaldo.
Somehow I don’t believe him.
Ballon d’Or Top 10
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
2. Lionel Messi
3. Antione Griezmann
4. Luis Suarez
5. Neymar
6. Gareth Bale
7. Riyad Mahrez
8. Jamie Vardy
9. Pepe
10. Gianluigi Buffon
