Photo leak suggests Ballon d’Or bound for Cristiano Ronaldo

Spanish sport daily Marca was one of several media to publish a photo on Monday that appears to confirm Cristiano Ronaldo as the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Spanish sport daily Marca was one of several media to publish a photo on Monday that appears to confirm Cristiano Ronaldo as the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Spanish sport daily Marca was one of several media to publish a photo on Monday that appears to confirm Cristiano Ronaldo as the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or. (AFP File Photo)

Marca published a shot of the cover of next edition of the French magazine that hands out the award, with Ronaldo on the front cover holding the award underneath the headline “Cristiano Ronaldo crowned”.

An interview with Atletico Madrid and France striker Antoine Griezmann, saying he finished “behind two monsters”, suggesting he has come third with Lionel Messi second, is also advertised on the cover.

The identity of the winner will be officially announced later on Monday.

Ronaldo has won the award three times before -- in 2008, 2013 and 2014 -- and has won the Champions League with Real Madrid as well as Euro 2016 with Portugal this year.

Ronaldo is currently in Japan with the Madrid squad ahead of their Club World Cup semi-final against Club America of Mexico in Yokohama on Thursday.