The world reacts with shock as Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or
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 Ronaldo's hands #ballondor pic.twitter.com/DGshGquEi2
— SportsJOE.ie (@SportsJOEdotie) 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.
No one saw it coming.
Ronaldo winning the ballon d'or is only news in a world where he's Jamie Vardy
— Га́нна (@Hannamayj) December 12, 2016
Did everyone practice their surprised face?
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
— akutsu (@FlorianAudidier) December 12, 2016
The Ronaldo v Messi debate raged, because this is a day ending in Y.
Do you think people are getting sick of it?
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
