PARIS: Cristiano Ronaldo capped a remarkable year by claiming a fourth Ballon d’Or award on Monday after leading Portugal to an emotional European Championship title and Real Madrid to a record-extending Champions League crown in 2016.

Ronaldo is one short of the record tally of five awards won by Barcelona’s Argentina forward Lionel Messi, who was second with the pair having taken the first two spots since 2011.

“For me it’s a great honour to receive my fourth golden ball. The emotion is like for the first one, it’s a dream come true again. I never thought in my mind to win four times. I’m so happy,” Ronaldo, who won the award in 2008, 2013 and 2014 and is at the Club World Cup in Japan, said in a pre-recorded video.

“It’s probably the best year of my career collectively, with Real Madrid and Portugal. It was unforgettable.

“Real are used to winning titles while Portugal had never won a major title so this [Euro 2016] title is special. I don’t want to lack respect to the Champions League but the title with Portugal is a level above.

“I have to thank all my team-mates, the national team, Real Madrid, all the people, the players who helped me to win this individual trophy. I want to enjoy this moment because it’s not easy to win this.”

The Ballon d’Or, which merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year award from 2010-15 to create the FIFA Ballon d’Or, returned to France Football magazine this year.

A total of 173 journalists voted but not national team coaches and captains who were also polled for the FIFA award.

France and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, who lost to Ronaldo’s Portugal and Real in the Euro 2016 and Champions League finals respectively, took third place.

Fourth was Luis Suarez and fifth his fellow Barcelona attacker Neymar, with Ronaldo’s Welsh team-mate Gareth Bale sixth.

Leicester City had Riyad Mahrez finishing seventh and Jamie Vardy eighth. Real defender Pepe and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon tied for ninth.

Published in Dawn December 14th, 2016