Ronaldo struggles to hold back the tears as his son joins him to collect prestigious football award… before he sparks wedding rumours by calling Irina Shayk his ‘wife’

Cristiano Ronaldo sparked rumours that he and girlfriend Irina Shayk may have married in secret when he referred to her as ‘my wife’ in an emotional acceptance speech after being crowned the FIFA World Player of the Year for the second time.

The 28-year-old sportsman was joined by both Russian model girlfriend Irina, also 28, and his three-year-old son Cristiano Junior as he claimed the coveted Ballon d’Or at the ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday night.

In his tearful acceptance speech, Ronaldo said: ‘First of all I have to stay a great thanks to all of my team mates with the club and the national team. Without all their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, it is very difficult to win this award.

Wearing a Dsquared2 Classic custom made grey tuxedo, Ronaldo was honoured after scoring 66 goals in 56 appearances for club and country Portugal in 2013, as he finally reclaimed the trophy he last held in 2008.

The footballer’s second win also means that he has broken the stranglehold of his great adversary Lionel Messi.

On his rivalry with Messi, Ronaldo said: ‘I have a very professional relationship with Messi, he’s a player I admire.

Messi had held exclusive rights to the award in recent seasons as he became the first player to win the Ballon d’Or four consecutive times.

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