Cristiano Ronaldo on winning the Ballon d'Or: "The emotion is the same as the first one again, the dream coming true again. I never thought I’d win a fourth golden ball so I'm so pleased and so happy.

"I need to thank all my teammates, the national team, Real Madrid, all the people that helped me win this individual trophy. As you can imagine I feel so proud and happy to receive this amazing award."

Image source, Real Madrid

Yes Mounish, yes we do. I can't clock off until we discover what order Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and Neymar have (possibly) finished...

There is some chat the complete top five will be revealed in the next 10 minutes or so. Stick with us...

Mounish Schimmel: Does anyone else still want to know the top five?

Image source, Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo has now won the award more than any other European player having already claimed it in 2008, 2013 and 2014.

Ronaldo moves above three-time winners Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985), Johan Cruyff (1971, 1973, 1974) and Marco van Basten (1988, 1989, 1992).

You guessed it. Lionel Messi.

The Barcelona superstar first lifted that 12kg ball of gold-covered brass in 2009, going on to strike the same pose in front of the flashbulbs in each of the next three years.

After loaning the trophy to Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013 and 2014, the Argentina forward took it back last year.

Come on lads, let someone else have a go.

Image source, #bbcfootball

Four of the most recognisable golden balls in world football will be sat on Cristiano Roanldo's mantelpiece. Or, more accurately, perched inside an oak-panelled cabinet in his own personal museum.

Only one man has won the trophy more times...

So the Twitter rumours were true. You might have seen earlier the leaked picture of tomorrow's France Football magazine - featuring a Ballon d'Or-clinging Cristiano Ronaldo. And, as those who saw it suspected, it was genuine.

Image source, Getty Images

As well as his domestic achievements with Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo managed to fulfill a career ambition by captaining Portugal to their first silverware at a major international tournament. 

Ronaldo might have limped out of Portugal's European Championship final against France through injury after 25 minutes in tears, but they became tears of joy when he went on to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy.

His three goals at France 2016 also saw him become the European Championship finals all-time leading goalscorer alongside France legend Michel Platini with nine. 

He also became Portugal's most capped player during the competition - overtaking Luis Figo's haul of 127 appearances.

Image source, Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo did not quite have the impact in Real Madrid's Champions League final against city rivals Atletico he might have liked. 

But in true Ronaldo fashion he was on hand to take centre stage and provide the memorable moment. 

The forward scored the winning penalty in the San Siro shootout to seal Real's 11th European Cup. 

Ehimze Albright:  Hurray!!! CR7 has won the Ballon d'Or 2016...Ronaldo is King!

Stuart Mitchell: Hahaha that takes farcical to a new level, all that build up just to kill it like that.

Maybe the team at France Football magazine want us to play a bit of Family Fortunes. Let's have a guess which names are on the board behind Ronaldo.

Hugo Lloris? NERRRR URRRRR.

Sergio Aguero? NERRRR URRRRR.

Lionel Messi? Surely a ping of the bell.

Just look at that grin...

We're still none the wiser who makes up the rest of the top five. This wouldn't happen in X Factor.

A farcial ending. The big reveal was supposed to end at 19:00 GMT and was clearly overrunning. The show stolen by a timed Tweet perhaps?

Someone will be getting the hairdryer treatment in the France Football office tomorrow morning.

HANG ON?! France Football have decided to kill all the suspense - and reveal Cristiano Ronaldo as the winner!

A steward's inquiry is needed...

Right into the top five...

Gareth Bale won't be following in the footsteps of Stanley Matthews, Denis Law, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen.

But it would have been a surprise if the Real Madrid and Wales forward had not been in the mixer.

Image source, #bbcfootball

And that figure will not change today...

Named BBC African Footballer of the Year and in the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or - if cheap Danish lagers did awards' afternoons...

Riyad Mahrez might want to hold a joint party with Jamie Vardy. Leicester's footballing version of Dynamo is rewarded for a quite remarkable year.

He was a driving force in Leicester's shock title triumph, scoring 17 goals and providing 11 assists as the Foxes pulled off what had been a 5,000-1 shot before the season.

In 2016 he proved he can thrive at the highest level, scoring four goals in his first five games in the Champions League. 

Image source, Getty Images