Cristiano Ronaldo has won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award after leading Real Madrid to Champions League glory before captaining Portugal to their first major title at Euro 2016.
The 31-year-old saw off competition from his Madrid teammate, Gareth Bale, and Atletico striker, Antoine Griezmann, to land the award.
Ronaldo scored 51 goals in 48 games in all competitions for Madrid last season, and hit the winning penalty in the shoot-out win over Atletico in the Champions League final.
He scored only three times at Euro 2016, Griezmann finishing the competition as top-scorer with six goals, and was injured 25 minutes into the final against France.
However, he inspired the team from the touchline to claim an unlikely extra-time victory.
“It’s a great honour,” Ronaldo said of the award.
“My teammates 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 teammates 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.”
Lyon’s Norwegian forward, Ada Hegerberg, won the women’s award.
She beat France’s Amandine Henry and Germany’s Dzsenifer Marozsan, after winning the Women’s Champions League and a French league and cup double with the French giants.
