Real Madrid failed in their attempt to sign France striker Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint Germain on the final day of the transfer window as Cristiano Ronaldo completed his move from Juventus to Manchester United.
Here are all the records he can break this year.
Under the new system, half the votes would belong to the players and coaches of the world's 211 national teams and half to the public, who will take part via an online ballot, and selected media representatives.
Modric beats Djokovic to win Balkan athlete of year
After lifting his fourth Ballon d'or award, Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that the competition for the trophy would have been fiercer if he and Lionel Messi were in the same team. Ronaldo, who inspired Zinedine Zidane's side to the Champions League glory and Portugal to the European Championship 2016 trophy, defeated Messi and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann to win the coveted prize.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner returned to his homeland prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down football around the world.
According to AFP, British tabloid The Sun had reported in March that the quadruple Ballon d'Or winner was expecting twins.
Lionel Messi is still the best player in the world despite never winning a major international trophy for Argentina, former Barcelona team mate and Brazil great Ronaldinho said on Sunday. The 29-year-old Messi, who retired from internationals last month after Argentina lost to Chile in the Copa America final, is his country's top scorer with 55 goals. The five times World Player of the Year has played in three Copa America finals and the 2014 World Cup final, but lost them all.
CR7 started the game against the Toons in his second debut at Old Trafford.
Real Madrid got off to a flying start in La Liga by beating Celta Vigo 3-1 away from home on Saturday with the help of a magnificent long range strike from Toni Kroos.
They say never go back, but United fans had been longing for Ronaldo to rejoin their side for many years, more in forlorn hope than anything else.
Varun posted a picture of himself with the former Barcelona playmaker on Twitter.
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has heatedly denied suggestions that he calls Argentine ace Lionel Messi offensive nicknames.
Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo would like Barcelona's Lionel Messi to leave Spain and rekindle their rivalry by joining him in the Italian top flight.
Real Madrid star forward Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Barcelona's Lionel Messi for the first time to clinch La Liga's best player award among a hat-trick of awards he won at the Spanish top flight's annual gala.
Images from Saturday's English Premier League matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo believes Barcelona play better soccer than his Real Madrid side and has tipped Lionel Messi to win the 2009 Ballon d'Or.
A round-up of Wednesday's action in the UEFA Champions League.
Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo was poised to join Arsenal before Manchester United offered three times as much money, the Ballon d'Or winner said in an interview published Friday. 'I was within an inch of (joining Arsenal),' Ronaldo told France Football. 'I have a lot of respect for (manager Arsene) Wenger, he is a very clever man.'
While Ronaldo, a three-time winner, has been ever-present in the final three since the award was created in 2011, centre back Van Dijk makes his first appearance after helping Liverpool win the Champions League title last season.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi raised eyebrows when he said in passing on Monday that he did not know where he would be next year.
Cristiano Ronaldo backed himself to win the 2008 Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards after inspiring Manchester United double.
Messi's lawyers informed Barcelona, on Tuesday, that the Argentine wanted to take up a release clause in his contract which could allow him to leave for nothing.
World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo is of the opinion that he would be considered one of the greatest footballers of all time in history by the time he retires.
Messi, who scored 37 times in La Liga last season, has been at Barcelona since the age of 13, rising through their youth system to become one of the most successful and recognisable footballers in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo has patched up his rift with Sepp Blatter following the FIFA president's hairdresser jibe and apparent imitation of the Portuguese international.
Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will reportedly reward the club's physiotherapy team by buying each of them a brand new car of their choice following his Ballon d'Or win.
Some of the players' high-profile backers, including women's sports pioneer Billie Jean King and presumptive US Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, leapt to their defence after news of their legal setback broke.
Iniesta has spent all of his senior career at Barcelona and is their most decorated player ever along with Lionel Messi, having lifted 31 trophies, which is soon to be 32 if Barca clinch the Liga title on Sunday at Deportivo La Coruna.
Ronaldo leads the scoring charts in the Champions League for the sixth season running with nine goals and is the top marksman in the competition's history with 114 strikes, 17 more than nearest challenger Lionel Messi.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly been accused of loving himself too much and his unbalanced attitude has been said to be at the root of Portugal's 2014 World Cup failure.
The Portugal is in New Jersey in preparation for the FIFA World Cup starting in about a week, but the country is facing problems over Cristiano Ronaldo's fitness.
Brazilian Neymar is set to become the next best player in the world after Argentina's Lionel Messi, according to Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic.
Brazil forward Neymar aims to get fully fit in time for next month's World Cup following foot surgery but his future at Paris St Germain looks rather uncertain.
Cristiano Ronaldo's subdued performances for Portugal at the World Cup after his scintillating form for Real Madrid last season suggest the tournament was a bridge too far for the Ballon d'Or holder.
He is certainly not the first to say this but World Cup and Ballon d'Or winner Rivaldo too feels India should follow the 'Japan model' in order to improve the standard of football in the country.
FIFA Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo must continue to maintain his exceptional high standards in order to be classed among the sport's legends, according to Brazil great Pele who compared the Portuguese to Eusebio.
These stars won the hearts of fans and pundits with their form at the club level and during the World Cup qualifiers. Rediff.com gives you a quick glance of the players who could light up the tournament in Brazil.
Cristiano Ronaldo will call curtains on his illustrious career at Real Madrid, according to the Portuguese international's agent.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the world's best soccer player when he bagged the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy. Now he is the wealthiest too!
