News
MAR 13.12.2016
LaLiga once again enjoyed a starring role at this year's Ballon d'Or awards ceremony, with the Spanish top flight - which treats followers to football of the very highest quality week in, week out and boasts some the world's finest players - again grabbing all of the headlines. If there's one distinction within the game that recognises a footballer's individual quality then it's the Ballon d'Or and the LaLiga representatives stole the show at this year's event to further enhance the competition's reputation.
For an eighth successive year, a LaLiga superstar was lauded as the best player on the planet, as Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo capped off a stellar year by collecting the accolade for a fourth time to prove that his ambitions know no limits. However, the Portuguese forward wasn't the only LaLiga star to be recognised for his exploits during 2016. Taking their places alongside Ronaldo on the podium were FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid hitman Antoine Griezmann. It comes as very little surprise that the award's top three be dominated by LaLiga players, given that this has been the trend for six of the past eight years.
The footballing world has revelled in the trio's goalscoring feats and eye-catching displays throughout the calendar year, but the trident weren't the only LaLiga aces to be rewarded, with a further six LaLiga Santander wizards featuring amongst the array of shortlisted stars to earn a share of the vote (Luis Suarez, Neymar, Gareth Bale, Pepe, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos).
What's more, Ronaldo and Barça's Lionel Messi have been involved in an intense tussle for the honour since the Portuguese star checked in at Real Madrid in 2009, with the pair having shared the Ballon d'Or awards between them since 2008. The duo's domination of this prize serves to offer further evidence of the immense quality within the Spanish top flight.
© LALIGA - 2016