Cristiano Ronaldo Rules As Fifa World Player of the Year
“I’m just very happy. I’m sorry some people from Barcelona aren’t here, but that’s understandable,” he said in a sly dig at Messi, who missed the ceremony as Barca opted to stay back and prepare for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey clash with Athletic Bilbao.
The Real Madrid and Portugal superstar becomes only the second player to be crowned world’s best player on four occasions after Messi who has won the award five times.
Ronaldo cradles the award
This latest recognition comes after he won the ballon d’Or last November for a stellar year that saw him lead Real Madrid and Portugal to the Champions League and European Championship glory respectively last summer.
At a colourful ceremony hosted by Hollywood star Eva Longoria, Carli Lloyd of the United States was named the world’s best female player.
Leicester’s Claudio Ranieri won the best men’s coach award for his incredible feat with the Foxes, beating Real boss Zinedine Zidane and Portugal coach Fernando Santos.
Ex-Germany boss Silvia Neid won the female coach award, while Penang’s Mohd Faiz Subri received the Puskas award for the best goal of 2016.
Voting for the player and coach categories was by national team captains and managers, selected journalists and, for the first time, an online poll of fans as Fifa looks to make the awards more inclusive.