Portugal and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award for the season 2015-16.

Ronaldo becomes the second man to receive the award twice, having won it previously in 2014. Lionel Messi became the first man to be awarded the prize two times, in 2011 and 2015.

Coming off a season where he won the Champions League with Real Madrid, Ronaldo won his first major trophy on the international stage when Portugal beat hosts France in the final of Euro 2016.

Forty of the 55 votes cast by journalists from each of UEFA's member associations saw Ronaldo win the prize by a fair margin.

Second place with eight votes went to a man whom he faced in each of those finals, Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid and France. Rounding up the top three with seven votes was Gareth Bale, Ronaldo's team-mate at Real Madrid.

"Of course, I feel happy because it was an unbelievable season," Ronaldo said. "But it wouldn't be fair if I didn't mention these two amazing players [Bale and Griezmann]. Griezmann, I am sorry for your loss to Portugal in the final, but you are an amazing player. It was an unbelievable season."