TheCable

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded another personal accolade to add to his growing collection, having been voted the best player in Europe by UEFA – his fourth year among the finalists for the prize.

Ronaldo, who already holds the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world, beat Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Dutch winger Arjen Robben, also of Bayern, to pick up the coveted gong.

Ronaldo, Robben and Neuer made the three-man shortlist from a list of 10, and the winner was decided by a live vote of 54 journalists from the European Sports Media (ESM) group after the UEFA Champions League draw in Monaco.

Last season, Ronaldo broke the record for the most goals scored in a single UCL campaign (17), as he led Madrid to the title – their first since 2002, as the Spanish side completed La Decima.

He scored 51 goals in 47 matches for Madrid in the all competitions last season and led Portugal to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The top 10 is as follows 

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

2. Arjen Robben

3. Manuel Neuer

4. Thomas Muller

5. Phillip Lahm

5. Lionel Messi

7. James Rodriguez

8. Luis Suarez

9. Angel di Maria

10. Diego Costa