Ballon d'Or 2017 - as it happened: Cristiano Ronaldo beats rival Lionel Messi to prestigious accolade in 62nd edition

Live updates from the ceremony in Paris

Cristiano Ronaldo in 60 seconds

Cristiano Ronaldo claimed his fifth Ballon d’Or at the 62nd edition, drawing him level with long-term rival Lionel Messi.

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When will the 2017 Ballon d’Or be announced?

The winner of the prestigious award will be announced on Thursday 7 December at 6.45pm.

Can I watch the ceremony?

Unfortunately not. But you can follow live updates from the blog above.

What is the Ballon d’Or?

The Ballon d’Or is an annual award presented by the magazine France Football to the best player of the year, as voted by sports journalists. The award has been running since 1956 making it one of the most prestigious individual accolades out there. Initially for European players, the honour went global in 2007.

Between 2010 and 2015 it was merged with Fifa’s own World Player of the Year award. That agreement ended in 2016, however, with the governing body reintroducing its own accolade once again – ‘The Best’ Fifa Men’s Player.

Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed another impressive year in his glittering career (Getty)

Who is the favourite?

Ronaldo is once again the favourite to claim the award, having notably helped lead Real Madrid to a historic Champions League title earlier this year. Messi follows in second with the usual suspects also among the mix.

The full shortlist:

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Karim Benzema, Leonardo Bonucci, Gianluigi Buffon, Edinson Cavani, Philippe Coutinho, Kevin De Bruyne, David de Gea, Paulo Dybala, Edin Dzeko, Radamel Falcao, Antoine Griezmann, Eden Hazard, Mats Hummels, Isco, Harry Kane, N'Golo Kante, Toni Kroos, Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mane, Marcelo, Kylian Mbappe, Dries Mertens, Lionel Messi, Luka Modric, Neymar, Jan Oblak, Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez.

Key Points

• Ronaldo claims fifth Ballon d’Or at the 62nd edition of the awards
• Messi finishes second, Neymar ranks third
• Premier League players ranked: 29 - Philippe Coutinho, 23 - Sadio Mane, 20 - David de Gea, 19 - Eden Hazard, 14 - Kevin De Bruyne, 10 - Harry Kane, 8 - N'Golo Kante

[7 December 2017 10:40 · Samuel Lovett]

[This blog starts at 4.00pm]

[7 December 2017 16:02 · Liam Corless]

Hello and welcome to The Independent's coverage of tonight's Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris!

[7 December 2017 16:11 · Liam Corless]

Ballon d'Or 2017 - the 30 contenders

Cristiano Ronaldo is the overwhelming favourite to win this year's prize but there are 29 other players on the shortlist.

Here's a full list of the players in contention to claim football's most prestigious individual honour:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)
• Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
• Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan)
• Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
• Edinson Cavani (PSG)
• Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
• Kevin de Bruyne (Man City)
• David de Gea (Man Utd)
• Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
• Edin Dzeko (Roma)
• Radamel Falcao (Monaco)
• Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid)
• Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
• Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich)
• Isco (Real Madrid)
• Harry Kane (Tottenham)
• N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea)
• Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
• Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
• Sadio Mané (Liverpool)
• Marcelo (Real Madrid)
• Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
• Dries Mertens (Napoli)
• Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
• Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
• Neymar (PSG)
• Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid)
• Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
• Luis Suárez (Barcelona)

[7 December 2017 16:24 · Liam Corless]

When can we expect to find out this year's winner?

The ceremony in Paris begins at 7pm local time (6pm UK time) and the winner is expected to be announced 45 minutes later.

[7 December 2017 16:24 · Liam Corless]

[7 December 2017 16:28 · Liam Corless]

Ballon d'Or - last 10 winners

2016 - Cristiano Ronaldo

2015 - Lionel Messi

2014 - Cristiano Ronaldo

2013 - Cristiano Ronaldo

2012 - Lionel Messi

2011 - Lionel Messi

2010 - Lionel Messi

2009 - Lionel Messi

2008 - Cristiano Ronaldo

2007 - Kaka

Brazilian playmaker Kaka was the last player other than Ronaldo and Messi to win the award 

[7 December 2017 16:42 · Liam Corless]

Ramos dismisses talk of Ronaldo rift

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos rubbished reports that there is a rift between him and team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo earlier this week.

There have been claims in the Spanish media that the pair no longer see eye-to-eye following a series of dressing room disagreements.

Ronaldo’s very public questioning of Real’s transfer policy is said to have annoyed Ramos, while it was rumoured Ronaldo was left annoyed by his captain’s desire to see Neymar quit PSG for the Bernabéu.

However, Ramos has moved to publicly rubbish any talk of a rift between the pair.

Ramos told TVE: “Nothing has ever happened between him and me. There has always been a great friendship between us.

“We have a lot of personality and have some different opinions, but we're pulling in the same direction.”

Both players are on the shortlist to win the Ballon d'Or.

[7 December 2017 16:55 · Liam Corless]

Positions 30-20 confirmed

• 29= Philippe Coutinho
• 29= Dries Mertens
• 28 - Edin Dzeko
• 27 - Mats Hummels
• 26 - Jan Oblak
• 25 - Karim Benzema
• 24 - Radamel Falcao
• 23 - Sadio Mane
• 21= Leonardo Bonucci
• 21 = Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
• 20 - David de Gea

[7 December 2017 17:07 · Liam Corless]

Players to have won the Ballon d'Or more than once

• 5 - Lionel Messi
• 4 - Cristiano Ronaldo
• 3 - Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten
• 2 - Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo, Alfredo Di Stefano, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Brazil's Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or twice, in 1997 and 2002 

[7 December 2017 17:19 · Liam Corless]

Positions 19-11 confirmed

• 19 - Eden Hazard
• 18 - Antoine Griezmann
• 17 - Toni Kroos
• 16 - Marcelo
• 15 - Paulo Dybala
• 14 - Kevin De Bruyne
• 13 - Luis Suarez
• 12 - Isco
• 11 - Edinson Cavani