Cristiano Ronaldo wins UEFA Best Player in Europe Award

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the UEFA’s Player of the Year award, which was announced during the Champions League group stage draw on Thursday.

The Real Madrid ace striker was up against team-mate Gareth Bale and Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann.

Ronaldo enjoyed a sensational 2015/16, winning the UEFA Champions League with Madrid before leading his country to UEFA EURO 2016 glory. 

The 31-year-old beat off competition from club-mate Gareth Bale and Atlético Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann to land the award he first picked up in 2013/14.

Bale scored 19 La Liga goals in the 2015-16 season plus three for Wales at Euro 2016, who progressed to the semi-finals in their first major tournament in 58 years.

Topping the score sheet at the Euros with six goals, France’s Griezmann also netted 22 for Atletico Madrid in La Liga last season.

He also scored another seven in the Champions League.

FULL RESULTS

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/POR) 40

2. Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid/FRA) 8

3. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid/WAL) 7

RONALDO ’S RECORDS

Madrid’s all-time leading scorer in the Liga

Five hundred career goals for club and country

Madrid’s all-time record goalscorer

Most goals in a single group stage

Second to Lionel Messi in FIFA Ballon d’Or

Second top scorer in Liga history

Decisive penalty in Champions League final

2015/16 UEFA Champions League top scorer

Portugal’s all-time most-capped player

UEFA.com Goal of the Season poll winner

Most all-time EURO finals appearances

Scores in fourth EURO final tournament

Joint-most EURO final tournament goals

Dramatic UEFA EURO 2016 triumph

Spanish Liga: 36 appearances, 35 goals, 11 assists

UEFA Champions League: 12 appearances, 16 goals, 4 assists

UEFA EURO 2016: 7 appearances, 3 goals, 3 assists

RONALDO REACTION

“It’s a great honour. My team-mates are the key – they are the key every year. 

“I work hard myself but without their help this would not be possible. 

“Thanks to my team-mates from Real Madrid and Portugal. [Winning EURO] was different because I’ve won the Champions League three times now. 

“To win something with Portugal was the highlight of my career.”

HOW THE VOTING WORKS

Journalists from each of UEFA’s 55 member associations provided an initial list of their five best-ranked players, with the first receiving five points, the second four, and so on. 

The ten players with the most points advanced to a second round of voting, which determined Ronaldo, Bale and Griezmann as the final three. 

In a live poll during the UEFA Champions League group stage draw, the same 55 journalists then selected their favourite from the three-man shortlist via an electronic system.

HEGERBERG WINS WOMEN’S AWARD

Elsewhere in the women’s competition, Lyon and Norway forward Ada Hegerberg was selected winner.

Hegerberg got ahead of France and Lyon, now Portland Thorns midfielder Amandine Henry, as well as 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Germany and Lyon midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan.

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