CAPPING what he called the best year of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo won his fourth FIFA best player award Monday.

    The double European champion with Portugal and Real Madrid beat rival Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann to complete a sweep of top individual awards.

    “It was a year that was magnificent at a personal level and at a sporting level,” the 31-year-old Ronaldo said in Portuguese in his acceptance speech, which he began by exclaiming “Wow, wow, wow.”

    Ronaldo’s fourth career FIFA award closed the gap on five-time winner Messi, who has been the runner-up to each Ronaldo victory.

    Ronaldo received 34.54 percent of total voting points in a 23-candidate ballot to Messi’s 26.42 percent. Griezmann got 7.53 percent. Voting was by national team captains and coaches, selected media and fans online.

    Messi did not attend after being pulled out hours before the ceremony by his club Barcelona to prepare for a Spanish Cup match today.

    “Of course, I wish that they (Barcelona players) had been here tonight like in the other years. We have to respect the decision,” Ronaldo said.

    Yet again, Ronaldo and Messi snubbed each other on ballot papers they got as captains of Portugal and Argentina. Ronaldo selected three Real Madrid teammates headed by Gareth Bale, and Messi picked Luis Suarez atop an all-Barcelona ballot.

    U.S. coach Bruce Arena and captain Michael Bradley both voted Ronaldo first. Arch Bell, the U.S. media member and a contributor to ESPN, voted Suarez first.

    Ronaldo’s 2016 trophy haul included the European Championship, Champions League and Club World Cup, plus individual best player awards from UEFA and France Football magazine.

    “I won a lot trophies, collective and individual, so I am proud,” said Ronaldo, adding he would send the inaugural silver FIFA Best trophy to the museum dedicated to his career on his home island, Madeira.

    Messi’s Barcelona won the Spanish league and cup double in 2016, though Argentina lost another Copa America final. Griezmann’s France and Atletico Madrid lost their finals to Ronaldo’s teams.

    Ronaldo’s mentors for club and country were beaten to the coaching award by Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, who earned the prize for a stunning English Premier League title.

    Ranieri shook hands with his two opponents, Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane and Portugal’s Fernando Santos, plus their partners before heading to the stage.(SD-Agencies)