In the worst-kept secret of 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo has been confirmed as the winner of the Ballon d’Or.
It was a special year, with not one but two ceremonies held (Lionel Messi picked up his 2015 award in January), and the Euro 2016 winner got the last laugh on his long-time not-really-rival.
The Ballon d'Or is back in Cristiano Ronaldo's hands pic.twitter.com/dC06UIwTBI
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) December 12, 2016
After Ronaldo led Real Madrid to Champions League glory and acted almost as a player-coach after going off injured in the final of Portugal’s victorious European Championships, people couldn’t have possibly seen this coming.
The reaction was one of shock.
https://twitter.com/RWhittall/status/808388009724956674
No one saw it coming.
https://twitter.com/Hannamayj/status/808386897793978368
Did everyone practice their surprised face?
https://twitter.com/heartlesmisery/status/808376774103040005
The news captivated the world.
Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or 2016. Well holy moly what a friggin mind blowing surprise as if we give a shit…👀
— Mike Elms (@ElmsMike) December 12, 2016
And the sense of shock was so great it transcended language barriers.
Ronaldo ballon d'or, quelle surprise
— flow (@FlorianAudidier) December 12, 2016
The Ronaldo v Messi debate raged, because this is a day ending in Y.
https://twitter.com/Lolleyj10/status/808391227913674753
https://twitter.com/RyanMcM587/status/808394424044716034
https://twitter.com/Lolleyj10/status/808391227913674753
Do you think people are getting sick of it?
https://twitter.com/Futfanatico/status/808390193371877380
So, what was Ronaldo doing when all of this went down? Why, he was basking in the glow of a photo of himself in bed, like he may or may not do every Monday.
Last chance to order my CR blankets for Christmas! Save 25% with promo code CRIS. https://t.co/wUzQqzllGd pic.twitter.com/QIWOliTCLH
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 12, 2016
It is Ronaldo’s fourth Ballon d’Or, for those keeping count, while we have now gone nine years since a player other than Ronaldo or Messi took football’s top individual honour.
Catch up with this week’s episode of Football Friday Live
