Photo leak suggests Ballon d'Or bound for Ronaldo

The Portuguese star has won the award three times before in 2008, 2013 and 2014

PARIS: 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.

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".

🏆 A France Football leak has confirmed the Ballon d'Or winner 🏆

👇https://t.co/vLaioxa4IU pic.twitter.com/oqFrNiiyW3

— MARCA in English 🇺🇸 (@MARCAinENGLISH) December 12, 2016

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.

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.