Ronaldo wins 2016 Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo won his fourth Ballon d'Or later on Monday. In doing so, he got one over his old rival Lionel Messi in their long-running duel for the title of world's best footballer.

Cristiano Ronaldo looks poised to win his fouth Ballon d'Or. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP

Confirmation of Ronaldo's win arrived early on Monday via a leak from France Football, the magazine behind the award.

La une du France Football de demain. Le podium du Ballon d'Or est :
1-C.Ronaldo
2-L.Messi
3-Griezmann

Ronaldo was officially handed the award by the magazine at around 20.00 Paris time.

It was be the perfect ending to another terrific year for the Real Madrid star, who won the Champions League for the second time in three seasons and then led Portugal to their first major title at Euro 2016 -- albeit he went off early injured and in tears in the win over France.

The 31-year-old's main rival will be his nemesis Messi -- but the Barcelona and Argentine maestro has had by his own lofty standards a less-than-stellar year for club and country with the top prizes eluding him on both fronts.

Never one to play down his achievements, Ronaldo was spotted midweek in training having dyed his hair gold in anticipation.

This is Ronaldo's fourth Ballon d'Or crown, one less than last year's winner Messi.

"For me there is no debate. The Ballon will be for him," Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said after his talisman's hat-trick saw off Atletico Madrid last month to underpin Real's domination in La Liga.

Despite such effusive praise, Ronaldo, rested at the weekend ahead of the Club World Cup in Japan, has had some negative headlines -- not least pertaining to accusations of tax evasion.

Denying any wrongdoing, he responded by publishing his financial records on Thursday, showing last year he earned a bumper 227 million euros.

Ronaldo first won the Ballon d'Or in 2008 after Premier League and Champions League triumphs with Manchester United. But it was only in 2013 that he added his second -- Messi had hogged it before then -- and Ronaldo made it a hat-trick the following year.

The first Ballon d'Or was won by Stanley Matthews, at the time with Blackpool, who beat Alfredo Di Stefano for the inaugural title in 1956.

This year marks the end of six years of joint awards by founders France Football and FIFA, which will revert to bestowing a "Best" accolade of its own on January 9 to both male and female players.

The Ballon d'Or will henceforth be decided by a vote of 173 journalists while national team captains and managers will no longer have a say.