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sports Friday 8 december 2017

Ronaldo moves level with archrival Messi with 5 Ballon d’Ors

By JEROME PUGMIRE Croatia midfielder Luka
AP Sports Writer Modric and Spain defender
PARIS (AP) — A decade of Sergio Ramos — both Ron-
dominance as the world’s aldo’s teammates — were
two best soccer players has fifth and sixth respectively.
left Cristiano Ronaldo and Teenage star Kylian
Lionel Messi level with five Mbappe finished seventh
Ballon d’Or awards each. after helping Monaco win
Despite once trailing 4-1 to the French title and reach
his longtime rival, Ronaldo the Champions League
moved level after winning semifinals. He joined Ney-
the award again on Thurs- mar at PSG this season in a
day. deal worth 180 million Euros
“With Messi the fight contin- ($216 million) — the sec-
ues, in a good way,” Ronal- ond-most expensive ever.
do said after being present- Chelsea midfielder N’Golo
ed the trophy awarded by Kante, Bayern Munich
France Football magazine striker Robert Lewandowski
at a ceremony held at the and Tottenham striker Harry
Eiffel Tower. Kane completed the top
Messi was second in the 10. PSG striker Edinson Ca-
voting and Neymar, who vani was surprisingly 11th
left Barcelona in the off- despite scoring a career-
season to join Paris Saint- Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the Champions League Group H soccer match high 49 goals in all compe-
Germain for a world record between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, titions last term.
transfer fee of 222 million Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. The Ballon d’Or is voted
Euros ($262 million), was Associated Press for by 173 journalists world-
third. forward also took home leading scorer in the history aged only a meager two wide.
Overall, Messi has a very the Ballon d’Or prize in of the Champions League in 10 games and Madrid It became known as the
slight edge. 2013 and 2014, and in 2008 with 115 goals. is fourth — already eight FIFA Ballon d’Or for six years
The 30-year-old Messi has when playing for Manches- “If he can score 10 times in points behind leader Bar- in conjunction with world
been runner-up to Ronaldo ter United. training he will, that’s what celona after 14 matches. soccer’s governing body.
on each of his wins. Messi won it from 2009-12 impresses me,” Real Ma- Messi is already well clear That association ended last
Ronaldo has been runner- — with Ronaldo runner-up drid coach Zinedine Zidane with 13 league goals. year, when it became the
up to Messi four times, with three times during the pe- said. “His ambition impress- Meanwhile, veteran goal- sole award of the maga-
the exception being when riod — and in 2015 ahead es me. I’m proud to be his keeper Gianluigi Buffon was zine once more.
midfielder Andres Iniesta — of Ronaldo and Neymar. coach.” fourth on France Football’s The last player to win it be-
Messi’s brilliant club team- Ronaldo claimed it back He set another competi- list. The 39-year-old Italian fore either Messi or Ronaldo
mate — finished second in last year after helping Por- tion record on Wednesday, helped Juventus reach the was Brazil midfielder Kaka
2010 after scoring the win- tugal win the European scoring in Real Madrid’s 3-2 Champions League final — who starred for AC Milan
ner for Spain in the World Championship and starring win over Borussia Dortmund and win the Italian title for when it won the Champi-
Cup final. Ronaldo did not for Madrid as it won the on Wednesday to become the sixth straight season. ons League in 2007.q
make the podium that Champions League. the first player to find the
year, with Barcelona and “Thanks to my Real Madrid net in all six group-stage
Spain midfielder Xavi taking teammates,” Ronaldo said, matches. It took his tally to Garcia voted as European
third place. adding. “I want to thank nine so far, but in La Liga it
He has bounced back to the rest of the people who has been a very different Tour’s golfer of the year
win the last two. helped me reach this lev- story during this campaign.
Ronaldo was shown on el.” In August, he was banned VIRGINIA WATER, England believable year, and one
television receiving his lat- Last season he won the for five games after shoving (AP) — Sergio Garcia has that I will definitely remem-
est award Thursday while Champions League once referee Ricardo de Burgos been voted as the Europe- ber my whole life.”
making the sign of five with again — scoring twice in Bengoetxea in the back an Tour’s golfer of the year Garcia held off Ryder Cup
his left hand as held the tro- a 4-1 rout of Juventus in following his red card dur- after claiming his first ma- teammate Justin Rose to
phy in his right. the final — and played a ing a 3-1 victory over Bar- jor title at the Masters and win at Augusta in his 74th
“Of course, I feel happy, key role as Madrid won celona in the Spanish Super winning two more events in appearance at a major.
it’s a big moment in my the Spanish league title for Cup. He missed the return 2017. He also won the Dubai Des-
career,” Ronaldo said. “It’s the first time since 2012. His leg of the Spanish Super The 37-year-old Spaniard, ert Classic and the Andalu-
something I hope to win ev- league tally of 25, however, Cup in Madrid plus the first who also got married in cia Valderrama Masters.
ery year.” was his lowest since joining four matches of the Span- July, says “I think both on The award was voted for
The 32-year-old Portugal the club in 2009. ish league season. and off the golf course it by members of the golfing
Ronaldo is the all-time Since then, he has man- has been a unique and un- media.q