Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo lands Fifa world’s best player award for 4th time
Capping what he called the best year of his career, the Portugal captain won his fourth Fifa best player award at the ceremony in Zurich
Capping what he called the best year of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo won his fourth Fifa best player award on Monday.
The double European champion with Portugal and Real Madrid beat rival Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann to complete a sweep of top individual awards.
“It was a year that was magnificent at a personal level and at a sporting level,” the 31-year-old Ronaldo said in Portuguese in his acceptance speech, which he began by exclaiming “Wow, wow, wow.”
Ronaldo received 34.54 per cent of total voting points in a 23-candidate ballot to Messi’s 26.42 per cent. Griezmann got 7.53 per cent. Voting was by national team captains and coaches, selected media and fans online.
Messi did not attend after being pulled out hours before the ceremony by his club Barcelona to prepare for a Spanish Cup match Wednesday.