The Ballon d’Or 2016 rankings were another unforgettable list in football history.
Over the years, fans have grown accustomed to the greatest rivalry in world football during this decade between the two legends, Argentinian star Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo—not only in terms of goals and trophies but also in individual awards.
Ronaldo entered a fierce competition with Messi, alongside 28 other players, for the 2016 Ballon d’Or.
As usual, the announcement of the Ballon d’Or winner sparked wide debate; while some believed the winner fully deserved the award.
It’s well-known that the Ballon d’Or isn’t awarded just based on statistics, but on a set of exact criteria that reflect France Football’s philosophy of evaluating both individual brilliance and team contributions.
In 2016, the award marked the 61st edition. That year was special: France Football ended its partnership with FIFA and reinstated the Ballon d’Or in its original format.
Who Was Crowned Ballon d’Or 2016?
Cristiano Ronaldo was officially crowned the Ballon d’Or winner for 2016, beating Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann to the honor.
After the announcement of his victory, Cristiano Ronaldo was absent from the award ceremony, but he spoke through a recorded video, showing him receiving the Ballon d’Or before traveling to Japan to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid.
He said: “It is a great honor for me to win the fourth Ballon d’Or in my professional career. My happiness is just like when I won it for the first time — it is a new dream come true. I never imagined in my life that I would win the Ballon d’Or four times. I am very happy.
And he continued:”I want to enjoy this moment now, because it is not easy to win the Ballon d’Or,” he added, thanking his teammates at Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team”.
Don’t miss: Ballon d’Or 2015 Rankings: Messi or Ronaldo?
Ronaldo – Ballon d’Or Winner 2016: Why He Deserved It
Ronaldo’s triumph was built on an extraordinary year filled with both collective glory and individual brilliance:
UEFA Champions League Success: Ronaldo played a decisive role in Real Madrid’s 11th Champions League title (La Undécima). He scored crucial goals throughout the campaign and converted the winning penalty in the final against Atlético Madrid.
Historic Euro 2016 Victory: Ronaldo led Portugal to their first-ever major international trophy. His goals and leadership throughout the tournament were instrumental, even though he was forced off injured in the final. His presence on the sidelines, urging his teammates on, became an iconic image of the tournament.
Top Scorer in Europe: Ronaldo finished the year as the top scorer in the Champions League, underlining his dominance on the continental stage.
His ability to deliver in the biggest competitions—both for club and country—was seen as the decisive edge over Lionel Messi.
- Comparison with Lionel Messi
Messi also enjoyed a strong year, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey with Barcelona, while maintaining incredible individual statistics as a scorer and playmaker. However, his failure with Argentina in the Copa América final, where they lost to Chile on penalties, weighed heavily against him.
While Messi’s artistry and domestic dominance were undeniable, Ronaldo’s decisive performances in the most prestigious competitions—both at club and international level—cemented his Ballon d’Or win.
Read also: Ballon d’Or Rankings 2013 – Top 3 Players
Ballon d’Or 2016: Top 10 Players
Here are the top 10 in the 2016 Ballon d’Or rankings—those who were closest to Ronaldo and Messi in the voting.
The table shows their rank, nationalities, clubs, and points.
| Order | Player | Club | Nationality | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal | 745 |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina | 316 |
| 3 | Antoine Griezmann | Atlético Madrid | France | 198 |
| 4 | Luis Suárez | Barcelona | Uruguay | 91 |
| 5 | Neymar | Barcelona | Brazil | 68 |
| 6 | Gareth Bale | Real Madrid | Wales | 60 |
| 7 | Riyad Mahrez | Leicester City | Algeria | 20 |
| 8 | Jamie Vardy | Leicester City | England | 11 |
| 9 | Gianluigi Buffon | Juventus | Italy | 8 |
| 10 | Pepe | Real Madrid | Portugal | 8 |
Additional Notes on Ballon d’Or 2016 Rankings
- Dominance in club & international success: Ronaldo’s success in both club (Champions League) and country (Euro Championship) played a major role in his decisive win.
- Gap in votes: The difference between 1st and 2nd was very large, showing how clear a favorite Ronaldo was in 2016.
- Many players got zero votes: Out of the shortlist of 30, multiple players didn’t receive any votes at all.
