Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. who plays for Real Madrid, looks at the trophy after winning The Best FIFA Men’s Player award during the The Best FIFA Football Awards 2016 ceremony held at the Swiss TV studio in Zurich, Switzerland, Monday, Jan. 9, 2017. (Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP)
Cristiano Ronaldo was named FIFA’s best men’s footballer of 2016 on Monday, the latest prize after a glittering year for the Portugal and Real Madrid star.
Ronaldo bested France’s Antoine Greizmann and long-time Barcelona rival Lionel Messi of Argentina for the honor.
Ronaldo had already won the Ballon d’Or after his third Champions League title, thanks in major part to his 16 goals in 12 games, as well as triumphing with Portugal at Euro 2016 — the country’s first major prize.
“2016 was the best year of my career,” Ronaldo said after being handed the prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“It was a year that was magnificent at a personal level and at a sports level,” he added on the stage in Zurich.
The honor makes Ronaldo the first man to win the FIFA “Best” men’s player distinction.
World football’s governing body has launched the new award series after ending its six-year collaboration with France Football magazine for the Ballon d’Or.