Messi wins Ballon d’Or for record sixth time

Messi wins his 6th Ballon d’Or. His numbers this year are once again truly extraordinary. He’s head and shoulders the best player in world football. He plays a game that is both joyous and incomprehensible to mere mortals. The award is totally meritorious. 👏🏻👏🏻

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Cristiano Ronaldo wins 2016 Ballon d’Or

The prolific forward has been recognised for firing Real Madrid to Champions League glory before then lifting the European Championship with Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten off competition from the likes of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann to claim his fourth Ballon d'Or.

The prolific Portuguese, who previously lifted the prestigious prize in 2008, 2013 and 2014, has enjoyed arguably the most successful year of his illustrious career, winning the Champions League with Real Madrid before captaining his country to European Championship glory in France.

Messi, who boasts a record five Ballons d'Or, helped Barcelona win a domestic double last season but his dream of leading Argentina to a major international title was dashed by a penalty-shootout loss to Chile in the final of the Copa America.

As for Griezmann, the 24-year-old attacker fired both Atletico Madrid and France to the finals of the Champions League and Euro 2016, respectively, but he suffered the agony of defeat on both occasions.

Ronaldo, by contrast, tasted nothing but success over the summer by converting the winning spot-kick in Real's 11th European Cup triumph, in May, and then cheer-leading the Seleccao to victory over France in Paris just over six weeks later.

With the 31-year-old having already finished top of the Goal 50 and now claimed another Ballon d'Or, he is set to complete a hat-trick of individual honours for 2016 when FIFA announces the winner of its Best Player award in January.

Plane carrying Copa Sudamericana finalists Chapecoense crashes, 76 confirmed dead

76 have lost their lives so far, as the plane carrying 81 went down near Medellin; Colombia ahead of the 1st leg clash.

Football fans woke up on Tuesday to tragic news, as it was reported that a plane carrying players of the Brazilian club Chapecoense crashed. The accident happened to a plane headed for Medellin, Colombia.
81 people – 72 of which were passengers – were reported to be on board that plane, including players of the club, when it went down. As written by the BBC, the plane reported electric problems; whilst Radio Caracol claim that the plane “lost contact with the control tower when flying through the municipality of La Ceja, near Medellin”.

The radio station went on to reveal that 10 survivors have been found, citing “authorities of the municipality of La Union, Antioquia” as their source. Three of the 10 survivors are believed to be Chapecoense players. BBC claim that Alan Ruschel and Danilo are of the survivors.

Sadly, a Medellin police officer revealed to Radio Caracol that they fear 75 people have lost their life after the crash. The Mayor also disclosed that rain has hampered their rescue mission.

Shortly afterwards, confirmation of the aforementioned death toll was confirmed via Commander Jose Gerardo Acevedo of the Medellin Police. The tragic news came via Twitter.

"Commander Jose Gerardo Acevedo of Medellin Police confirms that 75 people in accident with the Chapecoense team were killed"

The South American football association (CONMEBOL) wrote a statement in which they suspended all activities. They said: "The Conmebol family greatly regrets what happened. All activities of the confederation are suspended until further notice," it said.

The club, who ply their trade in the Brazilian top-flight, were flying to Colombia to play the first-leg of the Copa Sudamericana final with reigning Cope Libertadores champions Atletico Nacional. 

RUMOURS: Manchester United to make Alaba move

Jose Mourinho wants to strengthen his defence and has been watching the Austria star, with international team-mate Julian Baumgartlinger also under consideration

Manchester United are eyeing a move for Bayern Munich defender David Alaba and hope to beat Real Madrid to his signature, according to the Sunday People.

The Red Devils scouted the Austria international twice during the international break in games against the Republic of Ireland and Slovakia

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Mourinho also wants Alaba's Austria team-mate, Julian Baumgartlinger, with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin set to leave.

Ronaldo: I've done everything to win Ballon d'Or, I want it

After winning the Champions League and Euro 2016 in what he says was his best season, the Real Madrid star has the prestigious award in his sights

Cristiano Ronaldo believes he has done everything possible to win the 2016 Ballon d'Or prize.

The 31-year-old is among the favourites to claim France Football's award for the world's best player after a stellar 12 months for club and country.

Ronaldo hit 51 goals in 48 matches in all competitions for Real Madrid last season, including 16 in 12 Champions League appearances as Zinedine Zidane's side won the trophy for the second time in three years.

The forward then captained Portugal to their first major title at Euro 2016, scoring three times to help them reach the final, where a solitary strike from Eder secured a 1-0 win over France.

Ronaldo, who has been criticised for some of his performances in 2016-17, struck a hat-trick as Madrid beat city rivals Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday, prompting Zidane to claim that any debate over who should win the Ballon d'Or should now end.

And the player himself feels he could not have done any more to earn the prize following what he considers to have been the best season of his illustrious career.

"I've done everything for this season," he told Telefoot. "We won the Champions League, I won the Euros with Portugal. The vote doesn't depend on me and I don't want to be obsessed with it.

"But if you ask me if I want to win the Ballon d'Or, I'd say yes. This year has been amazing for me, with all the trophies. It's my best season, no doubt about that."