Cristiano Ronaldo beats Antoine Griezmann and Gareth Bale to become Uefa European Player of the Year

CRISTIANO RONALDO beat off competition from Antoine Griezmann to win the Uefa European Player of the Year.

The Real Madrid superstar picked up the award – voted for by journalists – after a brilliant season.

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https://twitter.com/FCPortoGlobal/status/768860806322630656

Ronaldo lifted the Champions League with his club and then won Euro 2016 with Portugal.

It is the third time in a year that Griezmann has lost out to rival Ronaldo.

The Frenchman was in the Atletico Madrid side that lost out to Ronaldo’s Real in the Champions League final.

And Griezmann was then in France’s Euro 2016 final team that were beaten by a extra-time goal by Portugal.

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Gareth Bale also lost out to his club team-mate for the award.

Bale was also influential in the Champions League final and inspired Wales to the semi-finals of the Euros.

They were then knocked-out by Ronaldo and eventual winners Portugal.