- Title: Ronaldo favourite to win the 2016 Ballon d'Or
- Date: 11th December 2016
- Summary: ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** BALE POSING IN FRONT OF HIS NEW CAR, GETS IN AND PUTS ON SEAT BELT MADRID, SPAIN (FILE - OCTOBER 31, 2016) (REUTERS) BALE ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE REAL MADRID INSTITUTIONAL MANAGER EMILIO BUTRAGUENO SPEAKING TO BALE BURTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - JULY 29, 2016) (REUTERS) LIONEL MESSI (CENTRE) AT BARCELONA TRAINING SESSION WITH LUIS SUAREZ (RIGHT) SUAREZ AND MESSI TRAINING SOCCER BALL MESSI KICKING BALL BARCELONA, SPAIN (FILE - OCTOBER 20, 2016) (REUTERS) SUAREZ WITH HIS CHILDREN RECEIVING GOLDEN SHOE AWARD VARIOUS OF SUAREZ SHOWING GOLDEN SHOE
- Embargoed: 26th December 2016 11:21
- Keywords: Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Gareth Bale Antoine Griezmann Luis Suarez Ballon d'Or
- Location: FARO AND LISBON, PORTUGAL / MADRID AND BARCELONA, SPAIN / BURTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / NEUSTIFT IM STUBAITAL, AUSTRIA / MILAN, ITALY
- City: FARO AND LISBON, PORTUGAL / MADRID AND BARCELONA, SPAIN / BURTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / NEUSTIFT IM STUBAITAL, AUSTRIA / MILAN, ITALY
- Country: Various
- Reuters ID: LVA0035CFTZJZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Cristiano Ronaldo is the odds on favourite to win the 2016 Ballon d'Or at France Football's ceremony in Paris on Monday (December 12).
The other main contenders for the award are Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and Gareth Bale.
Ronaldo helped Portugal win Euro 2016, although his performances were often criticised and he was injured early in the final against France, and he won the Champions League with Real Madrid. Bale also helped Real to their 11th European title before leading Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
Messi led Argentina to the final of the Copa Centenario, where they lost to Chile, and won La Liga with Barcelona.
Angry with the leadership of the Argentine FA, he briefly announced his international retirement but later back-tracked.
His Barcelona team mate Suarez won the Golden Shoe for being the top goalscorer in Europe during the 2015-16 season.
Atletico Madrid forward Griezmann earned a spot with his performances for France at Euro 2016.
From 2010 to last year inclusive, the awards were organised jointly with FIFA and the event was known as the FIFA Ballon d'Or. However earlier this year FIFA decided to end their partnership with the French collaboration.
Following the split FIFA's award has been renamed "The Best FIFA Football Awards" and the winner of that prize will be named at a ceremony in Zurich on January 9. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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