Ronaldo favored to capture 2016 Ballon d’Or

Cristiano Ronaldo is the odds-on favorite to win the 2016 Ballon d’Or at France Football’s ceremony in Paris on Monday.

The other main contenders for the award are Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and Gareth Bale.

Ronaldo helped Portugal win Euro 2016, although his performances were often criticized and he was injured early in the final against France, and he won the Champions League with Real Madrid. Bale also helped Real to an 11th European title before leading Wales to the Euro 2016 semifinals.

Messi led Argentina to the final of the Copa Centenario, where it lost to Chile, and won La Liga with Barcelona.

Angry with the leadership of the Argentine FA, he briefly announced his international retirement, but later backtracked on that decision.

His Barcelona teammate Suarez won the Golden Shoe for being the top goal-scorer in Europe during the 2015-16 season

Atletico Madrid forward Griezmann earned a spot with his performances for France at Euro 2016.

From 2010 to last year inclusive, the awards were organized jointly with FIFA and the event was known as the FIFA Ballon d’Or. However earlier this year FIFA decided to end the partnership with the French collaboration.

Following the split FIFA’s award has been renamed “The Best FIFA Football Awards” and the winner of that prize will be named at a ceremony in Zurich on January 9.

In related news, Barcelona put pressure on La Liga leader Real Madrid by picking up its first win in four games as two second-half strikes from Messi and one from Suarez secured a 3-0 win at struggling Osasuna on Saturday.

Also, Real captain Sergio Ramos again came to his side’s rescue as it snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory over Deportivo La Coruna to keep Zinedine Zidane’s side six points clear at the top of La liga anad set a club record 35 games unbeaten.