Portugal and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or award for the fourth time on Monday after claiming the European Championship and Uefa Champions League titles in 2016.
Ronaldo, 31, is now one short of his Primera Liga rival Lionel Messi’s record tally of five.
“For me it’s a great honour to receive my fourth golden ball. The emotion is like for the first one, it’s a dream come true again. I never thought in my mind to win four times. I’m so happy,” said Ronaldo, who won the award in 2008, 2013 and 2014.
“I take the opportunity to thank all my teammates, from the national team and for Real Madrid. I feel so proud and happy.”
The Ballon d'Or, which merged with the Fifa World Player of the Year award from 2010-15 to create the Fifa Ballon d'Or, returned to France Football magazine this year, with only journalists voting and not national team managers and captains.
* Reuters
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PAST 10 WINNERS
2007: Kaka (BRA)
2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
2009: Lionel Messi (ARG)
2010: Lionel Messi (ARG)
2011: Lionel Messi (ARG)
2012: Lionel Messi (ARG)
2013: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
2014: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
2015: Lionel Messi (ARG)
2016: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
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Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae
The five pillars of Islam
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Power: 310hp
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RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
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Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
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Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
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The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
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Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
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