The big news: Ronaldo on a high

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award for a fourth time. Ronaldo won last season’s Champions League and scored three goals as Portugal won Euro 2016. It adds to the titles he won in 2008, 2013 and 2014. “I never thought in my mind that I would win the Golden Ball four times. I am pleased. I feel so proud and happy,” said Ronaldo, reported BBC. “I have the opportunity to thank all of my team-mates, the national team, Real Madrid, all of the people and players who helped me to win this individual award.”

Ronaldo is now one behind Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who received the honour in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

Other top stories:

  1. Arsenal will face Bayern Munich, while Leicester City take on Sevilla in the last 16 of the Champions League. This will be the fourth time in the last five editions that Arsenal have been drawn with the German champions.
  2. Riyad Mahrez has won the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2016. Mahrez had a terrific year with Leicester City as they won their first Premier League title last season. “It means a lot, it’s something big for African players so I am very happy, I am very proud. It’s always good to receive awards and for African players it’s a huge honour. To all the fans, thank you very much. Also I want to thank the Algeria fans and dedicate this to them as well and for my family. I just have to carry on and keep going with my football and see what I can do,” said Mahrez.
  3. Manchester United will face French side Saint-Etienne in the Europa League last 32, while Tottenham Hotspur meet Belgian team Gent. United midfielder Paul Pogba is set to face older brother Florentin, who plays for the eighth-placed Ligue 1 side on February 15. 
  4. Second-placed Roma beat AC Milan 1-0 to cut Serie A leaders Juventus’ advantage to four points on Tuesday. Radja Nainggolan scored the lone goal of the match in the second half in what seemed to be a dull affair.
  5. Manchester United manager José Mourinho said that Wayne Rooney is not guaranteed to replace the injured midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenian is expected to miss at least two matches after suffering an injury in the last game against Tottenham. United face Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion. However, Rooney taking the field is yet to be decided. “Rooney, [Marcus] Rashford, [Jesse] Lingard, Ashley Young, Memphis Depay – that’s a position where we have lots of players so that will not be another problem, to chose a player to play,” Mourinho said. “The problem is he [Mkhitaryan] was playing so well and now he’s not there.”