Madrid
Ronaldo on Monday won his third Ballon d’Or award, which this year is being handed out by France Football magazine separately from FIFA. Ronaldo also took home the Ballon d’Or prize in 2013 and 2014 and the FIFA award in 2008 while still playing for Manchester United.
The Portugal forward is also in contention for FIFA’s prize this year, along with Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann, who finished second and third to Ronaldo on Monday, respectively.
“This was likely the best year of my career, individually and collectively,” Ronaldo said in a pre-recorded video. “It was unforgettable.”
Only Ronaldo and Messi have been voted the best in the world since 2007, when Kaka won the prize. Messi won a record fifth award last year.
Messi was runner-up for the fifth time in his career, while Griezmann finished third after a remarkable year with France and Atletico Madrid. Luis Suarez was fourth and Barcelona teammate Neymar fifth in the results announced by the Paris-based magazine.
Nyon, Switzerland
Bayern ousted Arsenal in back-to-back seasons in the first knockout round in 2013 and ’14.
Also in Monday’s draw, defending champion Real Madrid will host Napoli first, and Barcelona will travel first to play Paris Saint-Germain.
Leicester, the only debutant in the round of 16, was drawn to play first at Sevilla.
Also, it was: Manchester City vs. Monaco; Benfica vs. Borussia Dortmund; FC Porto vs. Juventus; and Bayer Leverkusen vs. Atletico Madrid.
Nyon, Switzerland
France international Paul Pogba leads Man United’s midfield and older brother Florentin, a Guinea international, is a Saint-Etienne defender.
Also, Turkish club Besiktas, whose stadium in Istanbul was targeted by a deadly bombing on Saturday, will first play in Israel at Hapoel Beer-Sheva.
Italian clubs got tough draws: Roma will first play at Villarreal and Fiorentina will travel to Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Among Champions League clubs now switching to the Europa League, Tottenham is at Gent and Legia Warsaw hosts Ajax.
The first legs will be played on Feb. 16, with return matches on Feb. 23.
The final will be played in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 24.
