BIG CONGRATS........ Cristiano Ronaldo wins the 2017 Ballon d'Or award for the 5th time (photos)

hehehehe...........Real Madrid and Portugal superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, has just been crowned the world's best player for 2017, beating his rival Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Neymar (PSG) to clinch the Ballon d'Or award for the fifth time in his outstanding career.

The former Manchester United star who won his previous awards in 2008, 2013, 2015 and 2016, was unveiled standing on the Eiffel Tower in France as he clinched the 2017 trophy.
The award crowns his hardworking year after scoring 42 goals across all competitions during the 2016-17 season, leading Real Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double.
The 32-year-old star also netted 25 times in La Liga last term and added 12 goals in the Champions League, including a brace in the final against Juventus.
Ronaldo who was also named the Best FIFA Men’s Player of 2016-17 in October, has now equaled Lionel Messi's record of winning the prestigious honor for the fifth time.

Before crowning Ronaldo, France Football unveiled its 30 finalists in reverse order of how they finished in the voting:
29 (tied). Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool/Brazil) and Dries Mertens (Napoli/Belgium)
28. Edin Dzeko (Roma/Bosnia & Herzegovina)
27. Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich/Germany)
26. Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid/Slovenia)
25. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/France)
24. Radamel Falcao (Monaco/Colombia)
23. Sadio Mane (Liverpool/Senegal)
21 (tied). Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus-AC Milan/Italy) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund/Gabon)
20. David De Gea (Manchester United/Spain)
19. Eden Hazard (Chelsea/Belgium)
18. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/France)
17. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid/Germany)
16. Marcelo (Real Madrid/Brazil)
15. Paulo Dybala (Juventus/Argentina)
14. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Belgium)
13. Luis Suarez (Barcelona/Uruguay)
12. Isco (Real Madrid/Spain)
11. Edinson Cavani (PSG/Uruguay)
10. Harry Kane (Tottenham/England)
9. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)
8. N'Golo Kante (Chelsea/France)
7. Kylian Mbappe (Monaco-PSG/France)
6. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid/Spain)
5. Luka Modric (Real Madrid/Croatia)
4. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus/Italy)
3. Neymar (Barcelona-PSG/Brazil)
2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal)
The glitzy ceremony was held at the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, France.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his family jetted out in style to Paris ahead of the Ballon d'Or award ceremony tonight. The Real Madrid star is expected to win the trophy for the fifth ahead of his rival Barcelona's Lionel Messi, following his impressive performance.

For the trip, the 32-year-old  Portuguese forward was joined by his brother Hugo Aveiro, mother Maria Aveiro, sisters Katia Aveiro and Elma Aveiro, including his son Cristiano Jr and girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez.

On Wednesday, Cristiano Ronaldo also became the first player in history to score in each of his team’s six Champions League group games, after netting a goal in Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund.
The winner of the award is expected to be announced at 6.45pm.