The big story: Ronaldo pips Lionel Messi to bag FIFA honour

Cristiano Ronaldo was adjudged the world’s best player at the inaugural Best FIFA Football Awards in Zurich on Sunday.

The Real Madrid and Portuguese forward pipped Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann to the award.

Ronaldo had earlier won the Ballon d’Or in December. The 31-year-old has had a successful 2016, winning the Champions League with Real Madrid and Euro 2016 with Portugal.

Messi did not attend the FIFA awards ceremony. Barcelona said it decided Messi would skip the event in Zurich and be “prioritising preparations“ for a the Copa del Rey home tie against Athletic Bilbao.

Ronaldo took a jibe at Messi and Barcelona after winning the award.

“This achievement is incredible on a personal level. Unbelievable, I will never forget this year. I am very happy. Thank you everyone, I don’t really have anything else to add. The awards I think speak for themselves,” Ronaldo said.

“I’m just very happy. I’m sorry some people from Barcelona aren’t here, but that’s understandable,” he added.

Meanwhile, United States’ Carli Lloyd was named the best female player. Leicester’s Claudio Ranieri was named best men’s coach.

Other top stories:

  • FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s proposal to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 2026 are all set to be adopted when the world football body’s Council meets in Zurich on Tuesday.
  • Lionel Messi’s statue in Buenos Aires was mutilated by vandals on Monday. The statue was cut in half with just the bottom part left standing.  
  • Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will lead his team against Hull on Tuesday in the first leg of the League Cup semifinals. Hull is coached by Marco Silva, a Portuguese manager who has drawn comparisons with his more celebrated compatriot.
  • Manchester United will face Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup, while Leicester City to cross swords with Derby County after the draw was announced on Monday. Chelsea to take on Brentford.
  • Barcelona manager Luis Enrique admitted that the Catalans’ fate in the La Liga will depend on a Real Madrid slip up. Barca have fallen five points behind Zinedine Zidane’s side at the top of table.
  • The English FA chairman Greg Dyke opened the doors for gay footballers to “come out”, two months after stating that it was not advisable to do so, especially with the risk that the player would face from opposition fans.