Lionel Messi fans outraged after Cristiano Ronaldo beats Barcelona forward to Ballon d'Or award

Christiano Ronaldo Photo: Courtesy

While there was never much doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo would win this year's Ballon d'Or, that didn't stop the Lionel Messi fanatics from coming out of the woodwork when the results were announced on Monday night.

The Real Madrid and Portugal forward, who lifted both the Champions Leauge and the European Championship trophy in 2016, received more than twice the number of votes that the Barcelona star.

But that wasn't enough to convince Messi's most hardened followers he had bested the Argentinian over the last 12 months.

They weren't having any of it...

Jog on ="https://twitter.com/Cristiano">@Cristiano<...="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash">#Messi< is best player to kick a football...And ="https://twitter.com/LuisSuarez9">@LuisSuarez9< should have won ="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ballondor2016?src=hash">#ballondor2016< unbelievable 12 month stats — Spen (@spendigedig) ="https://twitter.com/spendigedig/status/808418386925469696">December 12, 2016<

="https://twitter.com/KIopptimism">@kiopptimism< ="https://twitter.com/ZwebackHD">@zwebackhd< You said it bro.Those who think Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Messi should donate their eyes — Lavinah Deborah (@LavinahMchelsea) ="https://twitter.com/LavinahMchelsea/status/808406830271569920">December 12, 2016<

="https://twitter.com/ericisdopeee">@ericisdopeee< ="https://twitter.com/julian17_g">@julian17_g< ="https://twitter.com/soccerdotcom">@soccerdotcom< ="https://twitter.com/Cristiano">@Cristiano< Ronaldo wasn't decisively better last year though. 57/17 in 57 to Messi's 52/26 in 61. — Jake Domenic (@J_DOM10) ="https://twitter.com/J_DOM10/status/808402112682098688">December 12, 2016

Of course there were those who were gushing towards Real Madrid's all-time top scorer...

="https://twitter.com/Cristiano">@Cristiano< Ronaldo is the greatest player we've ever seen, fully deserved the ="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ballondor2016?src=hash">#ballondor2016< ="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ronaldo?src=hash">#ronaldo< — Jon Watts (@Watts1Jon) ="https://twitter.com/Watts1Jon/status/808415359661379584">December 12, 2016<

Parabéns pela 4 bola de ouro ="https://twitter.com/Cristiano">@Cristiano< congratulations for the 4 ballon or ="https://twitter.com/Cristiano">@Cristiano< ????????? ="https://t.co/N2aJIEkH7x">pic.twitter.com/N2aJIEkH7x< — Luís Figo (@LuisFigo) ="https://twitter.com/LuisFigo/status/808399297167454208">December 12, 2016<

 The Portuguese star's former clubs got involved as well...

Congratulations to ="https://twitter.com/Cristiano">@Cristiano< Ronaldo... Ballon d'Or winner for an incredible fourth time. ???????????????? ="https://t.co/QS5AJs1ebm">pic.twitter.com/QS5AJs1ebm< — Manchester United (@ManUtd) ="https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/808391273963028481">December 12, 2016<

And a fellow Real Madrid legend...

Exciting games ahead! What is your favourite team to win UEFA ="https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague">@ChampionsLeague< this year? ="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLdraw?src=hash">#UCLdraw< ="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash">#UCL< ="https://t.co/Cs34OLYWHH">https://t.co/Cs34OLYWHH< — Luís Figo (@LuisFigo) ="https://twitter.com/LuisFigo/status/808278125100625921">December 12, 2016<