FIFA, the world governing body in soccer, has announced a shortlist of 10 candidates for The Best FIFA Men's Player for 2018 just weeks after the conclusion of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The winner of the award, which attempts to recognise the "extraordinary achievements" of soccer players over the past season, will be announced at a ceremony in London on September 24

The winner will be decided by the following four groups, with equal weighting (25%) given to each:

1. The captains of all national teams
2. The head coaches of all national teams
3. A fan ballot that the public can participate in
4. A group of approximately 200 members of the international media

In no particular order, here are the 10 soccer players in with a chance of winning this year's award.

SEE ALSO: We analysed who the better big-game player is, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi — and the stats show the winner is clear

DON'T MISS: 3 stats show how Kylian Mbappé could eclipse Cristiano Ronaldo in the coming season

Antoine Griezmann — Atlético Madrid and France national team forward.

Antoine Griezmann has been instrumental to the success of his club and his country so far in 2018. He scored twice in Atlético's 3-0 win over Olympique Marseille in the Europa League final in May, and once in France's 4-2 victory over Croatia in the World Cup final in July.

Titles won in 2018: UEFA Europa League winner with Atlético and FIFA World Cup winner with France. FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball (third best player) and FIFA World Cup Silver Boot (second top scorer).

Cristiano Ronaldo — Juventus F.C. and Portugal national team striker.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of the best goals of the decade when he stunned Juventus with an acrobatic overhead kick — a "PlayStation goal"— in the Champions League quarterfinal earlier this year. He scored goal after goal in Real Madrid's march to the Champions League title, and then sealed a shock $130 million transfer to Juventus during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Titles won in 2018: UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid. Ronaldo was also the Champions League top goalscorer for the 2017-2018 season.

Eden Hazard — Chelsea FC and Belgium national team forward.

Hazard continued to grind away at Chelsea FC in the 2017-2018 season, but it was at the 2018 FIFA World Cup where he really came alive. Hazard was a nuisance from the first game to the last, and was truly deserving of the Silver Ball award.

Titles won in 2018: FIFA World Cup third place with Belgium. Hazard also won the 2018 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball (second best player) and was the joint top assist provider at the tournament in Russia.

• Cristiano Ronaldo's move from Real Madrid to Juventus is the soccer signing of the summer.
• However, renowned auditor KPMG claims Juventus will now have to sell at least one of its big-name players to remain compliant with UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations.
• Juventus also has to increase its operating revenues in the seasons ahead in order to justify the blockbuster deal.
• However, Ronaldo performs at such a high level that Juventus now has a greater chance of winning the UEFA Champions League, a tournament Ronaldo has won five times.
• Read Business Insider's coverage for the 2018-2019 soccer season here.

Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at Juventus has been the signing of the summer, but the Serie A club may have to sell one of its best players to ensure it remains compliant with UEFA's financial fair play regulations.

Juventus paid Real Madrid $130 million to buy Ronaldo and the deal had an immediate impact, as the club's stock price popped almost 40%, its social media portals attracted millions of new followers, and the club sold 520,000 Ronaldo jerseys (approximately $62.4 million in revenue) in 24 hours.

When Ronaldo, a 33-year-old athlete, completed his medical evaluation at the club, Juventus discovered something extraordinary — he apparently had the fitness of a 20-year-old player as he had below average body fat, above average muscle mass, and could record incredible sprint speeds.

All of the news appeared positive — not only had Juventus completed a blockbuster deal, it may have got tremendous value for money, too.

However, renowned auditor KPMG believes the $130 million signing may come at a cost. This is because Juventus may have to sell a key asset like experienced striker Gonzalo Higuaín or young forward Paulo Dybala in order to remain on the right side of UEFA regulations.

In a 20-page document called "Ronaldo Economics," KPMG reports that "Juventus needs to abide by specific rules" to be "compliant with UEFA Regulations."

It said: "One of the most stringent ones is the 'break-even' rule, which requires them to report a maximum accumulated loss of €30 million over the course of the three latest financial years." Ronaldo's transfer is a "heavy burden" to that rule.

What this means is simple. After buying Ronaldo, Juventus must now sell at least one of its big-name players.

"The arrival of Ronaldo in Turin might imply the disposal of one or more players by Juventus, providing an immediate source of funding," KPMG said. 

It listed six players that could generate a large "potential selling price."

As you can see in the table above, the player with the biggest selling price is Paulo Dybala — the club's top-performing player in the 2017-2018 season, according to soccer statistic website Whoscored.com.

KPMG believes Dybala has a transfer value of €105 million to €120 million and, at that price, the player would likely have no shortage of admirers as he has been linked with Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich and Premier League club Liverpool FC.

However, at 24, Dybala is a player Juventus can build around for years to come, so the club could be loathe to lose him to a European rival — especially at a time when it is planning to win the UEFA Champions League title.

Instead, Juventus may prefer ratifying sales for players over 30 years old — their transfer value will only decrease, so it may be preferable to cash in now while Juventus can still generate a decent fee and satisfy UEFA regulations.

Mario Mandžukić scored just five goals in 27 starts for Juventus last season, but the 32-year-old excelled at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with Croatia and his performance level has put him back into the spotlight.

Mandžukić is not essential to future Juventus success and, with KPMG valuing him at €20 million to €25 million, he could be free to join Manchester United.

Experienced striker Gonzalo Higuaín could also be on the chopping block. Higuaín was the second-highest goalscorer at Juventus last season, netting 16 times in 32 starts in all competitions. But at 30 years old, and with Dybala and now Ronaldo ahead of him in the starting line-up, he may be surplus to requirements.

KPMG foresees a €60 million to €70 million transfer fee for Higuaín, should Juventus decide to sell. And the player has already generated interest from Premier League club Chelsea.

Is that all Juventus has to do?

No. Not at all. Selling one of its top players is the easy part. The hard part is what happens over the next two to three seasons, because Juventus must "increase its operating revenues" to justify the extravagant Ronaldo purchase.

KPMG estimates that season ticket prices for the forthcoming seasons could increase by 30%, which would generate €33 million to €34 million. Juventus could also generate increased revenue from broadcasting (there will be more eyes on the club now it has the planet's most recognisable soccer player), and sponsorship (blue-chip clients would also, in theory, be lining up to talk to Juventus now it has Ronaldo).

Now here comes the fun part.

Yes. As KPMG notes, "securing Ronaldo’s performance increases the chances of winning on the pitch"— and that could mean the difference between Champions League success and Champions League failure.

As Ronaldo has won the competition five times, a sixth may not be out of the equation, and that would mean even more cash, even more broadcasting revenue, and even more sponsorship for Juventus in the very near future.

SEE ALSO: Juventus reportedly sold $60 million worth of Ronaldo jerseys in 24 hours — almost half his transfer fee

DON'T MISS: Cristiano Ronaldo has completed his Juventus medical exam, and the results showed he's performing like a 20-year-old athlete

Join the conversation about this story »

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• At $1 million per post, Kylie Jenner has the most lucrative account on Instagram.
• Jenner's price per post sharply increased from 2017 when she earned $400,000 per post.
• Price per post is calculated by average engagement, how often a user posts, and their number of followers.

At $1 million per post, Kylie Jenner has the most lucrative account on Instagram, according to HopperHQ's 2018 Instagram Rich List. And in an unexpected twist, football icon Cristiano Ronaldo generates more Instagram value than Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé.

HopperHQ is an Instagram planning and scheduling tool that analyzes internal and publicly available data to calculate how much celebrities and influencers can charge for a post on the social media platform. Its calculations factor in average engagement, how often a user posts, and their number of followers.

Last year, Jenner was fourth in the list, two spots below sister Kim Kardashian. This year, however, the youngest of the Jenner-Kardashian clan has stormed into first place, with her 2017 $400,000 per post valuation booming to $1 million in 2018. Selena Gomez trails in second at $800,000 per post, with Ronaldo in third at $750,000 per post. Kardashian and Beyoncé round out the top five, valued at $720,000 and $700,000 per post respectively. Assuming HopperHQ’s data is accurate, this is the very definition of "easy money."

Check out the top 10 below and then head to HopperHQ here to see who leads in categories such as beauty, fashion, food, sport, and travel.

SEE ALSO: Here's why Kylie Jenner's $800 million cosmetics empire could end up suffering the same fate as Martha Stewart's failed media company

SEE ALSO: The Rock was the highest-paid actor in the history of Forbes' Celebrity 100 for this year's list at $124 million

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1. Kylie Jenner — $1,000,000 per post

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2. Selena Gomez — $800,000 per post

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3. Cristiano Ronaldo — $750,000 per post

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Expensive Swiss mechanical watches don't have much practical use on the field, court, or track, though it's not uncommon to see the world's biggest athletes wearing high-end, luxury timepieces during their events.

Nevertheless, watch brands are eager to sponsor elite athletes, from fighters like Floyd Mayweather to tennis champions like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, not for their horological expertise but for their aura — which sells.

We got a helping hand from the experts at Crown & Caliber to determine the make and models of 20 timepieces worn by the world's top athletes.

Scroll down to see them ranked in ascending order of price:

SEE ALSO: 10 luxury watches that are actually worth the investment

Neymar — Gaga Milano, $2,100.

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Neymar's love of watches is well documented, with his trip to a Gaga Milano store ending in a $180,000 purchase and an endorsement deal.

Despite his own line of timepieces being on the lower end of the luxury watch bracket, it looks as though he has some special editions worth much more in his collection. 

Price according to Gaga Milano.

Tom Brady — TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 01, $3,250.

Five-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady partnered with Tag Heuer in 2015.

"His jaw is famous. His hair is famous. His right arm is famous. Now his left wrist is, too," Alex Williams wrote for The New York Times that year.

Last year, Tag Heuer released a special edition Tom Brady chronograph, which retailed at $5,600.

Price according to Crown & Caliber.

Andy Murray — Rado Hyperchrome XXL, $3,475.

When Andy Murray won his first Wimbledon Championship in 2013, he was a Rado brand ambassador, and as soon as he won, he reportedly hurried to slap on his Rado Hyperchrome.

He put it on so quickly he didn't notice that it was seven hours out. He has since dropped Rado as a sponsor and instead works with brands such as Jaguar and Under Armour.

Price according to the Daily Mirror.

• Cristiano Ronaldo's incredible overhead goal in the quarter-final of the Champions League has been voted UEFA Goal of the Year.
• The goal was scored when Ronaldo played for former club Real Madrid, and was struck against current team Juventus.
• But that did not deter Juventus from congratulating its new superstar player.
• Twitter users, including one of Juventus' league rivals, poked fun at the club on social media — with one user comparing it to "your ex congratulating you on your wedding day."
• Read all of Business Insider's coverage for the 2018-2019 European soccer season here.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been applauded by Juventus FC for scoring the "UEFA Goal of the Year"— even though the goal helped dump the club out of the UEFA Champions League last season.

The quarter-final strike really was something else. Ronaldo summoned all of his acrobatics and agilty to make the perfect connection with an overhead kick that proved unstoppable for Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus' goalkeeper at the time.

If you need an excuse to watch it again, check it out right here:

Ronaldo's stunning goal was by far the most popular choice for the UEFA Goal of the Year award, winning 197,496 votes according to the organisation's official website. UEFA Technical Observers said it was "an extraordinary display of technique and athleticism."

The tweet from Juventus' official account, shown above, sent its congratulations to Ronaldo.

However, one of the club's rival teams in the Italian Serie A division, AS Roma, poked fun at Juventus for commending a goal which was scored against them.

Twitter user @Omar10129 claimed it was the "best own goal ever."

Meanwgile, user @RahulFCB_ said the tweet was like "your ex congratulating you on your wedding."

Ronaldo, 33, stunned the soccer world when he left Real Madrid for Juventus in a $129.3 million (£99.2 million) deal in July.

Within 24 hours the Ronaldo effect had been felt as Juventus reportedly sold $60 million worth of Ronaldo jerseys in 24 hours— almost half his transfer fee. Then, days later, the club discovered that Ronaldo was performing like a 20-year-old athlete.

Ronaldo has already played twice for his new team and though he is yet to find the net, he has provided one assist during the recent 2-0 win over Lazio.

Juventus is next in action on Saturday when it travels to Parma for a league match.

SEE ALSO: Cristiano Ronaldo has completed his Juventus medical exam, and the results showed he's performing like a 20-year-old athlete

DON'T MISS: Atlético Madrid's extra-time slaughter of Real Madrid showed one clear thing — without Ronaldo and Zidane, Real has conceded power to one of its biggest rivals

UP NEXT: Juventus reportedly sold $60 million worth of Ronaldo jerseys in 24 hours — almost half his transfer fee

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Cristiano Ronaldo has the most unwanted statistic in the whole of European soccer.
• He is the player who has struck the most times without scoring a single goal in Europe's top five domestic leagues.
• Ronaldo's goal drought for his new club Juventus is so bad, he is even being outscored by his own son.
• Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. recently joined the Juventus Under-9 team and scored an astonishing four goals in his first ever appearance.
• Read all of Business Insider's coverage for the 2018-2019 European soccer season here.

Cristiano Ronaldo has the most unwanted statistic in the whole of European soccer.

The 33-year-old, who left Real Madrid for Juventus in a $129.3 million (£99.2 million) deal earlier in the summer, is struggling to score for his new club.

It is not for a lack of trying. Ronaldo has attempted an astonishing 23 shots on goal in the three games (7.7 per game, on average) he has played for Juventus so far this season — but despite the onslaught, he is yet to pick the ball out of the net and celebrate.

Soccer statistic website Squawka states that Ronaldo "has taken more shots without scoring than any other player in Europe's top five leagues."

He is already behind the likes of Fiorentina midfielder Marco Benassi (three goals), Genoa forward Krzysztof Piątek (three), and Juventus striker Mario Mandžukić (two) in the Serie A top goalscorer table.

In fact, Ronaldo's drought is so bad that he is being outscored by his 9-year-old son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr.

Ronaldo Jr. joined the Juventus Under-9 squad in late August and showed he could end up emulating his famous father as he scored an astonishing four goals in his first ever appearance for the team.

Though Ronaldo Jr's father is yet to hit the net for the Juventus men's team, he may not have long to wait.

Sports data-crunchers Opta reminded social media users that, while Ronaldo may have "zero goals from 23 shots this season," this is no different than the slow start he endured last year.

Opta said this is "the same number as his total shots and goals in his first three La Liga games last season with Real Madrid."

Ronaldo finished last season with 26 goals and five assists from 27 appearances in La Liga. However, he was massively prolific in the Champions League, scoring 15 times in 13 games as Real marched to Europe's top title.

Ronaldo won't feature for Juventus until the team's next match — a Serie A game against Sassuolo on Sunday, September 16.

SEE ALSO: Juventus reportedly sold $60 million worth of Ronaldo jerseys in 24 hours — almost half his transfer fee

DON'T MISS: Cristiano Ronaldo has completed his Juventus medical exam, and the results showed he's performing like a 20-year-old athlete

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly a wanted man.
• This is because David Beckham has allegedly put the Juventus FC striker on his hit-list of targets to sign at his new MLS club, Inter Miami CF.
• Read all of Business Insider's coverage for the 2018-2019 European soccer season here.

Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly a long-term target for David Beckham's new MLS club Inter Miami CF.

The club was only founded seven months ago and will not play in the MLS until 2020, but according to Calcio Mercato, the Daily Mail, and Goal.com, it is already identifying key players it wants on the team.

Ronaldo, 33, is apparently one of those players. The Portuguese striker left Real Madrid CF for Juventus FC in a shock $129.3 million (£99.2 million) deal earlier in the summer and is contracted to the Serie A team for four years, according to Forbes.

But that has reportedly not deterred Inter Miami from putting Ronaldo at the top of the club's hit-list of desired targets.

After Ronaldo completed his medical evaluation at Juventus, the results showed that the player was performing like a 20-year-old athlete.

And even if Ronaldo stayed at Juventus for every year of his current deal and joined Beckham's club after, he would still only be 37 — one year older than Zlatan Ibrahimović who, despite his age, is currently LA Galaxy's most impressive player according to Whoscored.com statistics.

Signing Ronaldo is not a guarantee of success, but it is close. After all, the player has won three Premier League titles in England, two La Liga championships in Spain, and five UEFA Champions League trophies overall.

He has competed in three Serie A matches for Juventus, but is yet to score a goal.

SEE ALSO: Cristiano Ronaldo's goal drought at Juventus is so bad, his 9-year-old son is outscoring him

DON'T MISS: Cristiano Ronaldo fitness exam shows he's performing like a 20-year-old athlete

UP NEXT: Without Ronaldo and Zidane, Real Madrid has conceded power to one of its biggest rivals

Join the conversation about this story »

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One of the biggest finance firms in the world has put together a huge list that ranks the most valuable soccer players on the planet.

Some of the most familiar names in sports feature, including FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain goalscorer Neymar, and Juventus FC striker Cristiano Ronaldo — but in what order?

KPMG, a provider of audit, tax and advisory services in Europe, calculated the market value of soccer players by using an algorithm that considered multiple variables, including:

1. Contract (athletes with longer contracts at their clubs of employment would command larger transfer fees, in theory)
2. Individual sports performance (goals, assists, dribbles, tackles, and other statistical data was considered when assessing a player's worth on the pitch)
3. Team performance and characteristics (sporting results, league competitiveness, and financial aspects of the club were also key in determining player valuations)
4. Team dependence (how important is the given player to his team)

KPMG said in a note that there is a major difference between "price" and "value." It said: "Price is what a person pays for a given product or service, whilst value is what any given product or service is worth."

It added: "Actual transfer fees in football are often distorted by several factors such as terms and conditions of the specific financial/sporting situation of the seller or the buyer at the time of a transaction, the willingness of a player to leave or join a club, league-specific rules and regulations, and terms of release clauses."

With that in mind, here are the 21 most valuable soccer players in KPMG's list, ranked in ascending order.

SEE ALSO: 3 stats show how Kylian Mbappé could eclipse Cristiano Ronaldo in the coming season

DON'T MISS: Cristiano Ronaldo's goal drought at Juventus is so bad, his 9-year-old son is outscoring him

UP NEXT: Lionel Messi's brother has been convicted of illegally possessing a gun that ended up in 'a blood-stained boat'

21: Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City striker (Premier League) — €90 million ($104.6 million)

20: Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder (Premier League) — €90.1 million ($104.8 million)

19: Luis Suarez, FC Barcelona striker (La Liga) — €90.2 million ($104.9 million)

• Cristiano Ronaldo is up-and-running in the Serie A goalscoring charts.
• But the Portuguese striker's greatest work is arguably being done away from the pitch.
• This is because shares in Juventus have doubled since his arrival. The club's market capitalisation is now €1.5 billion ($1.75 billion).
• But this is probably just the beginning as the club looks to increase broadcasting revenue, sponsorship revenue, and attract a global audience.
• Fans only care about one thing, though. Success. Specifically: success in the Champions League.
• Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri warned that the Champions League is "difficult" but also said that with Ronaldo in the team, they are far more likely to win it.
• Read all of Business Insider's coverage for the 2018-2019 soccer season right here.

Cristiano Ronaldo has officially opened his goalscoring account at new club Juventus FC.

After three matches without a Serie A goal, Ronaldo ended his mini-drought on Sunday when he struck twice against Sassuolo and was rewarded with a score of 8.54 out of 10 by data-crunching soccer website Whoscored.com — his best performance in a Juventus jersey to date.

But Ronaldo's greatest work is arguably being done away from the pitch. "Juventus believes the player presents an unparalleled financial opportunity, described by executives as 'the Ronaldo effect,'"according to a report in the Financial Times.

That effect can already be felt.

Since Ronaldo fever gripped Juventus, the club's share price has doubled from €0.69 ($0.81) on July 3, when credible transfer rumours were first reported across Europe, to €1.57 ($1.84) at the time of writing — that is an increase of 127% and has raised the club's market capitalisation to €1.5 billion ($1.75 billion).

If you had $1,000 invested in Juventus before Ronaldo left Real Madrid CF two months ago, that would be worth $2,275 today.

Before Juventus had even completed the $130 million signing, the club bumped up the average cost of season ticket prices by 30%, according to the FT — and all 29,300 of them are now sold out.

The player's arrival in July whipped fans into a jersey-buying frenzy as 520,000 shirts were sold in 24 hours — approximately $62.4 million worth of trade, and that was before he had kicked a ball.

This is probably only the beginning

That "Ronaldo effect" could continue to reap benefits for Juventus as the club looks to increase broadcasting revenue, sponsorship revenue, and attract a global audience.

Broadcasting

The Serie A had its stars in the 2017-2018 season, like Juventus forward Paulo Dybala, Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne, and AS Roma striker Edin Dzeko, but not one of them can boast the worldwide appeal — or talent — that Ronaldo can. This is crucial in attracting an international audience, which is something the Serie A currently lacks.

This is just one reason why Fabio Capello, who won nine Serie A championships as a player and manager, believes Ronaldo can help restore the Italian league as the premier division in European soccer, rather than just one of the top five leagues alongside France's Ligue 1 and Germany's Bundesliga.

"Finally the world is talking about the Italian league again,"Fabio Capello said in La Gazzetta dello Sport earlier in the summer, according to the BBC.

"In the 80s and 90s we represented the top. Then we lost our way and weren't capable of investing in infrastructure. With Ronaldo we can attempt to lift our head up," the 72-year-old said. "We need to have the strength and intelligence to exploit the Ronaldo stimulus and give our game an impulse again."

The Italian league generates €1.4 billion ($1.63 billion) a season from domestic and international broadcasting rights which is a far cry from what the Premier League pulls in (€3.3 billion / $3.86 billion). But "the global celebrity of Ronaldo is expected to drag fans and corporate groups to Juventus, with higher broadcasting money to follow," the FT says.

The BBC estimates that TV rights "are now probably worth 20 to 30% more" than they were before Ronaldo joined Serie A, so this means the league could, in theory, negotiate a deal worth €1.82 billion ($2.12 billion) when the current contracts expire at the end of the 2020-2021 season.

Juventus could also generate €255 million ($298 million) a season (up from €200 million / $233 million) providing it performs well in the UEFA Champions League — a tournament it has not won since 1996.

Ronaldo is contracted at Juventus until 2022, so if Juventus enjoyed sustained runs in the competition for each and every year of Ronaldo's deal, then that alone means a €1.02 billion ($1.2 billion) fortune from broadcasting rights in Europe's premier club competition.

Sponsorship

It is hoped that Ronaldo's presence will be the catalyst for greater sponsorship revenue, according to the FT.

The club's kit is manufactured by sports retail giant Adidas and sponsored by American automobile firm Jeep. The Adidas deal is worth €23 million ($27 million) a year, according to KPMG, while Jeep pays Juventus approximately €17 million ($20 million).

The increased sales in Ronaldo jerseys at Juventus will mean the club is in a greater position to negotiate a better contract — something it is already discussing, according to the FT, while the Jeep renewal on improved terms will be struck "in the coming years."

Going global

Serie A and Juventus lack one thing that Ronaldo is renowned for — an international pedigree — and the club will be hoping to piggy-back off of the player's fame worldwide.

When Juventus president Andrea Agnelli first joined the club in 2010, the FT says he was determined to attract "a new, global audience." With Ronaldo, he is a huge leap closer to building "the world's pre-eminent team."

Indeed, Ronaldo's global celebrity will not hurt the club's own brand. After all, he is one of the planet's most popular athletes on social media with over 330 million followers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Just one Instagram post on Ronaldo's channel can be worth up to $5.8 million to his personal sponsors like Nike.

When Ronaldo first joined Juventus, he brought 1.5 million new followers to the club's social media channels in a single day— and Juve's accounts continue to gain new fans.

Making new fans is what Ronaldo does well. After Ronaldo transferred to Juventus, he embarked on a personalised "CR7 Tour" of China on a Nike-branded jet where he trained with young soccer players in front of local fans.

And Juventus is looking to engage with soccer fans in similar territories. According to the FT, Giorgio Ricci, head of global partnerships at Juventus, said the club has been holding talks with six "regional" sponsors in China and south-east Asia.

In many ways, it seems like a match made in heaven.

But fans only really care about one thing

Success. Specifically, success in the Champions League.

Ronaldo won the tournament once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid. As a five-time winner, he is amongst the competition's most decorated players alongside other five-time champs Paulo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, and Alfredo di Stefano.

Signing Ronaldo is no guarantee of success, but considering he is the tournament's top scorer with 115 goals, he can certainly help.

And success is certainly something the club's top brass has their eye on. Massimiliano Allegri, the club's head coach, said that the competition "is difficult and unpredictable."

But: "With Ronaldo, we are far more likely to win it."

SEE ALSO: Juventus reportedly sold $60 million worth of Ronaldo jerseys in 24 hours — almost half his transfer fee

DON'T MISS: Cristiano Ronaldo's medical results show he's performing like a 20-year-old athlete

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Anthony Joshua might channel soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo in his heavyweight bout against Alexander Povetkin on Saturday.
• The boxer visited Under Armour's research centre to find out how Ronaldo, who is 33 years old, stays in such incredible shape.
• Joshua said he's changed his training regime after looking at the routines of other boxing greats like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.
• He now wakes up naturally instead of rising early for a morning run.

Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably one of the most influential players in world football — but it's not only soccer stars who look up to him.

Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has revealed that he finds inspiration in the Juventus forward, who is in extraordinary shape.

In the lead-up to his fight with Alexander Povetkin on Saturday, Joshua said he visited Under Armour research laboratories to analyse his fitness and find out how he could improve his regime.

"I could go in there and knock out Povetkin in a round or two but then there is the eight weeks of intense sparring, doing 200 rounds, you have to protect your body," the fighter said, according to The Telegraph.

Talking about his motivation to get better, he said: "Cristiano Ronaldo did a body test. He is 33 but has the body of a 21-year-old. You have to preserve your body."

Joshua also said he was inspired by other boxing greats like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

It was apparently these fighters that convinced him to ditch the early morning runs and wake up naturally instead.

"When I watched a Manny Pacquiao documentary he does the same thing... I saw 10.34 a.m. on a clock when he was waking up and I was like: 'What? I'm here getting up at the crack of dawn?'"

Joshua added: "It looks lazy but you're still getting the same amount of work done and in a better way."

The Telegraph also reported that boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said Joshua is constantly looking for ways to improve.

"When he went to Under Armour for a body analysis, it blew his mind. For a British fighter, Anthony is by far the most advanced in terms of training facilities or what he does... He is obsessed with improvements.

"He has brought all these people into camp. The only thing that is on his mind is performance and improving. Not cars, not women, not jewellery, just improving. He won't do anything that affects his ability to prepare."

Joshua's strict training regime has been taking its toll on his body, the fighter admitted.

"It has been tough, I am not going to lie," Joshua said. "My body is in pain. I've done 15 rounds, 13 rounds, 12 rounds, back to back but one thing I do know is I have got a deep well, a lot of fire.

"I have got enough heart to slug it out with Povetkin, same with Wladimir Klitschko. Even though some people may be more skilled, have longer arms or be taller, sometimes it is about what is in your heart. And I know I have got that for sure."

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• Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off in the 29th minute of his first Champions League match with Juventus on an absurdly soft call.
• It was Ronaldo's first red card in 154 career Champions League matches.
• Ronaldo will be suspended for Juve's next Champions League match, and could potentially miss more time — possibly spoiling his highly anticipated return to Old Trafford set for October.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League debut with Juventus did not go as planned.

Just 29 minutes into Juventus' group stage match against Valencia, Ronaldo was sent off with a red card after a brief altercation with a defender. Jeison Murillo had gone down in the box after some contact with Ronaldo, and the superstar striker encouraged him to get up with a tap on the head in frustration.

Valencia's defense immediately reacted, and Ronaldo was eventually given a red card for his infraction. Given how early it was in the match and how minimal the contact was between Ronaldo and his defender, it's hard to argue that the punishment matched the crime.

The match commentators were in disbelief with the call, repeatedly saying, "There is nothing in that!" while watching the replay.

Ronaldo, understandably, was furious. It was his first red card in 154 Champions League matches.

Luckily, Juventus was still able to pull out the win, quickly taking a 2-0 lead despite being down to ten men.

The more significant concern though has yet to be decided. According to UEFA rules, a player that is sent off the pitch is required to serve at least a one-game suspension, which can be extended depending on the seriousness of the offense.

If Ronaldo's suspension is capped at one game, things should be fine — Juventus can likely handle its match against BSC Young Boys without the superstar forward.

But should Ronaldo be suspended a second game, it would spoil his highly anticipated return to Old Trafford to face off against his old club, Manchester United.

After seeing Ronaldo's infraction, it's tough to believe that he'd be suspended for two matches. That said, it was also tough to believe that he was awarded a red card in the first place.

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Fans worldwide are anticipating the September 28 release of EA Sports' "FIFA 19," one of the top-rated soccer video game franchises. FIFA is celebrated for its attention to detail, featuring dozens of teams from leagues across the globe as well as the national men's and women's teams from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

EA works to accurately recreate each player and their specific skill set for the new FIFA game each year, then provides weekly updates to reflect real-life performance. With the 2018 World Cup complete and European soccer leagues now underway, fans will soon be able to see how FIFA ranked the players on their favorite team. But for now, take a look at the game's top ranked players for the 2018-19 soccer season.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal/Juventus - 94 Overall

FIFA 19’s cover star is the world’s most popular player, and for good reason. He was the top goal scorer in Europe’s Champions League during 2018 and led Real Madrid to its fourth championship in five years. In July, Ronaldo joined the Italian squad Juventus for a $110 million transfer fee and will earn $35 million a year for the next four years.

2. Lionel Messi - Argentina/FC Barcelona - 94 Overall

Messi has long been considered Ronaldo’s top rival, and this year he became the first player to earn a fifth Europe Golden Shoe award, which is given to the top scorer in Europe’s national leagues. Messi recorded his 600th career goal in March and still holds the European Golden Shoe record for most goals in one season, with 50.

3. Neymar Jr - Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain - 92 Overall

Neymar is considered Brazil’s best player, carrying the legacy of Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in international competition. He is the ntional's team third-highest scoring player of all-time. After his debut season for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017-18 was cut short due to injury, Neymar started this season by leading the team to three straight wins.

• Cristiano Ronaldo's lawters have denied claims he raped an American woman in 2009.
• The alleged victim, Kathryn Mayorga, told German magazine Der Spiegel she was attacked by the Portuguese star in a Las Vegas hotel room.
• Her lawyers said he paid her £287,000 in an out-of-court agreement and she pledged never to speak of the incident again.
• Ronaldo's lawyers issued a statement on Friday categorically denying the claims and calling the report "blatantly illegal."

Cristiano Ronaldo’s lawyers have fiercely denied claims he raped an American woman in 2009.

The alleged victim Kathryn Mayorga told German magazine Der Spiegel she was attacked by the Portuguese star in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Ronaldo allegedly paid her £287,000 in an out-of-court agreement and she pledged never to speak of the incident again, Mayorga’s lawyer Leslie Mark Stovall said.

Ronaldo’s lawyers, Schertz Bergmann Rechtsanwälte, issued a statement on Friday categorically denying the claims and calling the report "blatantly illegal".

His lawyer Christian Schertz said he would seek compensation from Der Spiegel for "moral damages in an amount corresponding to the gravity of the infringement, which is probably one of the most serious violations of personal rights in recent years".

Ronaldo signed for Juventus from Real Madrid this summer for €100m.

The Italian club declined to comment on the Der Spiegel report.

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• Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused of rape. The soccer player and his agent deny the allegation.
• Kathryn Mayorga, 34, alleges that Ronaldo raped her in a $1,000-per-night penthouse of a Las Vegas hotel in 2009.
• Der Spiegel, the German publication that first disclosed Mayorga's allegation in April 2017, reported over the weekend that Ronaldo's lawyers paid Mayorga $375,000 to "never again speak about that night."
• But Mayorga said she felt empowered to come forward in light of the #MeToo movement.
• Her new lawyer has expressed doubt that the agreement is legally binding, according to Der Spiegel.

The mother of Kathryn Mayorga, the 34-year-old woman who has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of raping her in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009, says the alleged incident "never left" her daughter, who would "completely disintegrate" when she saw him on billboards in the years that followed.

Der Spiegel, the German publication that first disclosed Mayorga's allegation in April 2017, reported over the weekend that Ronaldo paid Mayorga $375,000 to "never again speak about that night." But Der Spiegel said her new legal representative had expressed doubt that the agreement is legally binding.

Jorge Mendes, Ronaldo's agent and adviser, described the Der Spiegel article last year as "journalistic fiction."

Mayorga alleges that Ronaldo raped her shortly after they met on June 12, 2009, in the VIP section of the nightclub Rain, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. It was the same summer Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real Madrid in what was a world-record soccer transfer at that time.

Mayorga, then 25 years old, says she talked with Ronaldo during the night, then went to his $1,000-per-night penthouse at the Hotel Palms Place.

Mayorga told Der Spiegel over the weekend that Ronaldo "begged" her to touch him. She said that when she declined, he promised he would let her go if she kissed him, so she did.

This only made his advances stronger, Mayorga said. She alleged that he then tried to remove her underwear, jumped on her, and raped her. He did not wear a condom, she said.

She said that even afterward, Ronaldo wouldn't let her leave and was calling her "baby, baby."

Ronaldo has denied the allegation and said the encounter was consensual.

Mayorga called the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department at 2:16 p.m. the next day, Der Spiegel reported, citing a report of the call. The publication said she did not refer to Ronaldo by name but described him as an athlete and public figure.

Ronaldo, his lawyers, and a mediator sought an out-of-court settlement with a "young American woman" in 2010, Der Spiegel reported last year. The publication said in the article last week that Mayorga signed the deal and agreed to the payoff "out of fear for herself and her family" and "out of impotence, the inability to stand up to him."

Mayorga said she felt empowered to tell her story eight years later in light of the #MeToo movement against sexual violence and harassment.

She told Der Spiegel that she had "always wondered" whether Ronaldo, one of the most valuable soccer players on the planet, had ever sexually abused other women.

Her mother, Cheryl, told Der Spiegel that the incident "never left" her daughter.

"Every day, she lives it," Cheryl Mayorga said. "There were times when she would call me and his — he would be on a billboard or whatever, and she would just completely disintegrate. Having to walk into a store to get a pint of milk, and you've got his picture everywhere."

She added: "He's the soccer god that everybody thinks is just perfect and flawless ... And she can't even get out of bed some days."

"It's just wrong," Cheryl Mayorga said. "We're behind her 100%."

When Business Insider contacted Gestifute, Ronaldo's management company, for comment, a representative forwarded a statement from Ronaldo's lawyers that's on its website, adding that this is "all for now."

The statement, from Christian Schertz, an attorney, says:

"The reporting in Spiegel is blatantly illegal. It violates the personal rights of our client Cristiano Ronaldo in an exceptionally serious way. This is an inadmissible reporting of suspicions in the area of privacy. It would therefore already be unlawful to reproduce this reporting. We have been instructed to immediately assert all existing claims under press law against Spiegel, in particular compensation for moral damages in an amount corresponding to the gravity of the infringement, which is probably one of the most serious violations of personal rights in recent years."

In a recent Instagram live video, Ronaldo dismissed the allegations as "fake news."

According to The Associated Press, he said: "You want to promote by my name. It's normal. They want to be famous, to say my name. But it is part of the job. I am a happy man and all good."

The AP also reported on Tuesday that Ronaldo was being sued by a woman in Nevada who accuses him of raping her in 2009 and hiring a team of "fixers" to "obstruct the criminal investigation and trick her into keeping quiet."

Las Vegas police confirmed to the AP on Monday that a sexual-assault case from 2009 brought by the woman named in the lawsuit had been reopened.

"As of now this is an ongoing investigation and no further details are being released at this time," Aden Ocampo Gomez, a police spokesman, told the AP.

Der Spiegel said it believes Ronaldo will eventually "have to revisit the case and speak about what happened on that night in Las Vegas nine years ago."

SEE ALSO: Cristiano Ronaldo's lawyers deny 'blatantly illegal' report claiming the star raped an American woman in a Las Vegas hotel room

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• Cristiano Ronaldo has denied rape allegations made against him by 34-year-old Kathryn Mayorga.
• The Juventus FC soccer player issued a statement in two tweets on Wednesday after Mayorga told German publication Der Spiegel that Ronaldo raped her in Las Vegas in 2009.
• Ronaldo said: "I firmly deny the accusations."
• He added that he is keen to clear his name but refuses "to feed the media spectacle."

Cristiano Ronaldo has issued a statement on Twitter in which he "firmly" denies an accusation of rape.

The allegation relates to a reported incident at a Las Vegas penthouse in 2009, the same summer Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real Madrid in what was a world-record soccer transfer at the time.

Kathryn Mayorga, a 34-year-old American woman, told German publication Der Speigel that Ronaldo raped her without a condom in the Hotel Palms Place penthouse after the couple met at the resort's Rain nightclub.

The story broke in Germany last week, but the news quickly circulated around the world — and Ronaldo issued a statement on Twitter to address the claim on Wednesday.

"I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me,"he said, "Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in. Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense."

In a second tweet, he added: "My clear conscious will thereby allow me to await with tranquillity the results of any and all investigations."

The tweets follow a statement issued by Ronaldo's lawyer, Christian Schertz, on September 28 which read: "The reporting in Spiegel is blatantly illegal. It violates the personal rights of our client Cristiano Ronaldo in an exceptionally serious way.

"This is an inadmissible reporting of suspicions in the area of privacy. It would therefore already be unlawful to reproduce this reporting. We have been instructed to immediately assert all existing claims under press law against Spiegel, in particular compensation for moral damages in an amount corresponding to the gravity of the infringement, which is probably one of the most serious violations of personal rights in recent years."

The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that Ronaldo was being sued by a woman in Nevada who accused him of raping her in 2009 and hiring a team of "fixers" to "obstruct the criminal investigation and trick her into keeping quiet."

Las Vegas police also confirmed to the AP on Monday that a sexual assault case from 2009 brought by the woman named in the lawsuit had been reopened.

Ronaldo, one of the world's most valuable soccer players who represents Juventus FC, had previously dismissed the accusation on an Instagram live video as "fake news."

But the news was enough to "dishearten" Save the Children, a charity Ronaldo has been associated with since 2016.

"We are disheartened by the news report we’ve seen in the last 24 hours and are working to get more information,"a spokesperson told The Independent.

Business Insider has reached out to Ronaldo's key sponsors — Nike, Herbalife, and Abbot Lab — for comment.

SEE ALSO: The mother of the 34-year-old accusing Cristiano Ronaldo of rape says her daughter would 'completely disintegrate' when she saw him on a billboard after the alleged attack

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• Cristiano Ronaldo has been excluded from the Portugal national soccer team days after allegations surfaced that the soccer star allegedly raped a 34-year-old woman in 2009.
• Ronaldo will play no part in the UEFA Nations League match against Poland or the international friendly against Scotland this month.
• The news follows a statement sent to Business Insider that says the Portugal Football Federation stands in "total solidarity" with Ronaldo over the soccer player's rape accusations.
• It is unclear if the exclusion is related to the allegations.
• Read all of Business Insider's coverage for the 2018-2019 soccer season right here.

The Portugal Football Federation says it is standing in "total solidarity" with its captain Cristiano Ronaldo over the rape accusations being made against the soccer player, despite banishing him from the squad for its upcoming fixtures.

Kathryn Mayorga, a 34-year-old American woman, told German publication Der Spiegel last week that Ronaldo raped her in a Las Vegas penthouse in 2009.

Ronaldo "firmly" denied the allegation on Twitter, and said that he refuses "to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense."

The story "disheartened" Save the Children, a charity that Ronaldo works closely with, but Fernando Gomes, the president of the Portugal Football Federation, has expressed "total solidarity" with the team's star player.

In a statement to Portuguese news agency LUSA, which was forwarded to Business Insider and translated from Portuguese, Gomes said: "In my name and in the name of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express total solidarity with Cristiano Ronaldo, in a circumstance where his good name and reputation are at risk.

"I believe in the statements he issued yesterday, not only because I defend innocence as a basic principle of the rule of law, but also because I have known Ronaldo for many years and I am a witness to his good character."

Despite this "total solidarity," Ronaldo has been excluded from the latest Portugal squad and will play no part in the team's UEFA Nations League A match against Poland on October 11 or in the international friendly against Scotland on October 14. The exclusion is a surprise because Ronaldo is not injured and his recent playing form has been good. 

According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Ronaldo spoke to Gomes and Portugal head coach Fernando Santos about the decision. "It was understood that it was better for the Juventus FC player not to be included,"Record reports.

It is unclear if Ronaldo's exclusion is related to the rape accusations, according to ESPN, who further reports that Santos said "nothing will prevent Ronaldo from contributing to the team" in the future.

Ronaldo is Portugal's most influential player — the captain, the most-capped athlete with 154 appearances, and the nation's top scorer of all-time with 85 goals.

The statement from Fernando Gomes was translated from Portuguese into English in-house by Business Insider's Ruqayyah Moynihan and Sabrina Cesar.

SEE ALSO: The mother of the 34-year-old accusing Cristiano Ronaldo of rape says her daughter would 'completely disintegrate' when she saw him on a billboard after the alleged attack

DON'T MISS: Cristiano Ronaldo has 'firmly' denied the rape allegations being made against him — and says he refuses to 'feed the media spectacle'

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• Juventus F.C. tweeted support for Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday, following a report about rape allegations against Ronaldo from 2009.
• Juventus said Ronaldo has shown "great professionalism and dedication" and that his reputation is unaffected by the allegations.
• Ronaldo has firmly denied the allegations.

Juventus F.C. tweeted support for star Cristiano Ronaldo following the re-surfacing of rape allegations from 2009.

Der Spiegel reported on that case after Kathryn Mayorga, the 34-year-old woman from Las Vegas who previously agreed to a settlement with Ronaldo over rape allegations from 2009, filed a new civil suit.

On Thursday, Juventus said Ronaldo has shown "great professionalism and dedication" and that his reputation is unchanged by the allegations.

Ronaldo has denied the allegations and said he didn't want to comment on the allegations and "feed the media spectacle."

"I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me," he said. "Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in. Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense."

Der Spiegel reported that Ronaldo's legal team threatened legal action over their reporting.

Ronaldo claimed that the sex was consensual. Mayorga eventually decided to pursue a settlement, and Ronaldo reportedly paid her $375,000. She said she has re-surfaced the case because she's been empowered by the "Me Too" movement and always wondered if Ronaldo had raped other women.

Though Ronaldo was excluded from upcoming Portugal national team games, the club said it stands in "total solidarity" with him.

Read about the allegations here >

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• Nike says it is "deeply concerned" by the rape allegation facing the star soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo.
• EA Sports has expressed similar alarm over the accusations, but Ronaldo — who denies rape — has received support from his club, Juventus FC, and his national soccer federation.
• Ronaldo is included on the Juventus squad for the coming Serie A match against Udinese, but it is unclear whether he will play.

Nike, the massive sports retail company that has a $1 billion agreement with Cristiano Ronaldo, says it is "deeply concerned" by the rape allegation that has been made against him.

Kathryn Mayorga, a 34-year-old American, accused Ronaldo of raping her without a condom in Las Vegas in 2009, according to a report in the German publication Der Spiegel last week.

Ronaldo "firmly" denied the allegation on Twitter and said he refused "to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense."

The story "disheartened" Save the Children, a charity Ronaldo works closely with — and now more high-profile partners have issued statements to say they are alarmed by the news.

Nike, whose relationship with Ronaldo began in 2003, said it was "deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations and will continue to closely monitor the situation,"according to the BBC.

EA Sports, the video game publisher behind the wildly popular "FIFA" soccer series, has had Ronaldo on the cover of many of its editions. "We have seen the concerning report that details allegations against Cristiano Ronaldo,"EA Sports told the Associated Press, according to the BBC.

"We are closely monitoring the situation, as we expect cover athletes and ambassadors to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with EA's values," the company said.

The allegation has polarized those close to Ronaldo, as the forward's club, Juventus FC, issued a statement via Twitter confirming its support.

"Ronaldo has shown in recent months his great professionalism and dedication, which is appreciated by everyone at Juventus," the statement said. "The events allegedly dating back to almost 10 years ago do not change this opinion, which is shared by everyone who has come into contact with this great champion."

The Juventus statement follows support from Ronaldo's national team.

In a statement to the Portuguese news agency Lusa, which was forwarded to Business Insider and translated from Portuguese, Fernando Gomes, the president of the Portugal Football Federation said: "In my name and in the name of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express total solidarity with Cristiano Ronaldo, in a circumstance where his good name and reputation are at risk.

"I believe in the statements he issued yesterday, not only because I defend innocence as a basic principle of the rule of law, but also because I have known Ronaldo for many years and I am a witness to his good character."

Though Ronaldo has been excluded from Portugal's latest squad, he is on Juventus' roster for the club's next Serie A game, scheduled for Saturday. It remains to be seen whether he will play.

SEE ALSO: The mother of the 34-year-old accusing Cristiano Ronaldo of rape says her daughter would 'completely disintegrate' when she saw him on a billboard after the alleged attack

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UP NEXT: Portugal says it stands in 'total solidarity' with Cristiano Ronaldo over the rape accusations made against him — but it has still excluded him from its national squad

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• Each year, France Football awards its most prestigious trophy — the Ballon d'Or — to the world's best men's soccer player.
• Throughout the day on Monday, France Football released the list of 30 players in consideration for the 2018 Ballon d'Or, including Barcelona's Lionel Messi, Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo, and Paris St. Germain's Neymar.
• France Football also unveiled the 15-person shortlist for its first-ever women's Ballon d'Or Monday afternoon.

Each year, France Football awards its most prestigious trophy — the Ballon d'Or — to the world's best men's soccer player. The organization revealed the 30 players in contention for the 2018 Ballon d'Or throughout the day Monday, and many of the biggest names in soccer have made the list.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has taken the trophy home in each of the last two years, but Portugal's early departure from the World Cup combined with his rocky start with new club Juventus and the recent rape allegations levied against him could doom his chances at a three-peat.

Lionel Messi — who also has five Ballons d'Or — could reclaim the honor for the first time since 2015, but his inability to lead Argentina to success at the World Cup has undoubtedly dampened his chances.

Likewise, Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar is an unlikely pick to break through to win his first Ballon d'Or this year due to his international performances. Brazil failed to live up to expectations for the 2018 World Cup, falling to Belgium in a major quarterfinal upset.

The favorite to win the 2018 Ballon d'Or, however, is midfielder Luka Modric. The Real Madrid veteran captained Croatia to its first ever World Cup final, after which he earned the Golden Ball as the best player in the tournament. Modric has already earned FIFA World Player of the Year honors and is widely expected to add the Ballon d'Or to his collection of awards after posting an absolutely stellar year. Messi and Ronaldo have had a monopoly on the Ballon d'Or for the past decade, but Modric may be the man to end their collective reign.

France Football also released the shortlist of players nominated to receive the first-ever women's Ballon d'Or, which includes five-time FIFA World Player of the Year winner Marta, Australian blackflipper and all-time NWSL leading scorer Sam Kerr, and U.S. Women's National Team captain Megan Rapinoe. Lyon dominated with seven of fifteen nominees playing for the club.

Check out the complete list of men's and women's Ballon d'Or nominees:

Men's nominees:

Women's nominees:

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• Cristiano Ronaldo's lawyer has released a statement reiterating the player's denial of the rape allegations made against him.
• Kathryn Mayorga, 34, told Der Spiegel in September that Ronaldo raped her in a Las Vegas penthouse in 2009.
• Ronaldo and Mayorga reportedly signed an agreement in 2010 that effectively bought her silence for $375,000.
• Documents that appear to show Ronaldo's signature were published by Der Spiegel.
• But Ronaldo's lawyer has said the allegations are based on "fabricated documents" which may have been sold to the media by a cyber criminal.
• Ronaldo's position, according to Christiansen, is that what happened in 2009 was "completely consensual."

Cristiano Ronaldo's lawyer has released a statement reiterating the Juventus FC striker's stance on the rape allegations made against him.

The accusations are based on "fabricated documents" that may have been sold to the media by a cyber criminal, according to Peter Christiansen, Ronaldo's representative.

Kathryn Mayorga, a 34-year-old American woman, told German publication Der Spiegel in September that Ronaldo raped her in a Las Vegas penthouse in 2009. Mayorga's mother said her daughter would "completely disintegrate" when she saw him on a billboard in the years following the alleged attack.

Ronaldo "firmly" denied the allegation on Twitter, and said that he refused "to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense."

The player's commercial partners like Nike and EA Sports were alarmed by the news, but the player has received support from his employer, Juventus, and the Portugal national team.

Ronaldo's lawyers reportedly paid Mayorga $375,000 to "never again speak about that night."

Documents that appear to include Ronaldo's signature have been published by Der Spiegel and reported elsewhere. However, according to the BBC Christiansen said: "This agreement is by no means a confession of guilt."

Christiansen added that the media acted "irresponsibly" by basing reports on "stolen and easily manipulated digital documents."

These "fabricated documents" may have been sold to the media by a cyber criminal, Ronaldo's lawyer hinted.

"So that there are no doubts, Cristiano Ronaldo vehemently denies all the accusations in this civil action, in consistency with what he has done in the last nine years," Christiansen said.

"The documents that allegedly contain statements by Mr Ronaldo and were reproduced in the media are pure inventions. By 2015, dozens of entities (including law firms) in different parts of Europe were attacked and their electronic data stolen by a cyber criminal.

"This hacker tried to sell such information, and a media outlet irresponsibly ended up publishing some of the stolen documents, significant parts of which were altered and/or completely fabricated.

"Once again, for the avoidance of doubt, Cristiano Ronaldo's position has always been, and continues to be, that what happened in 2009 in Las Vegas was completely consensual."

SEE ALSO: The mother of the 34-year-old accusing Cristiano Ronaldo of rape says her daughter would 'completely disintegrate' when she saw him on a billboard after the alleged attack

DON'T MISS: Cristiano Ronaldo has 'firmly' denied the rape allegations being made against him — and says he refuses to 'feed the media spectacle'

UP NEXT: Portugal says it stands in 'total solidarity' with Cristiano Ronaldo over the rape accusations made against him — but it has still excluded him from its national squad

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