Cristiano Ronaldo: Thierry Henry reacts as Man Utd star shouts during 2014 Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo has the slimmest of slim chances of winning the 2022 Ballon d’Or.

It’s unfamiliar territory for the Manchester United star who has become accustomed to being either there or thereabouts when competing for what many fans herald as the premier individual prize in football.

However, as gutted as Ronaldo will no doubt be playing second fiddle to the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Mohamed Salah, the 37-year-old can at least console himself with his proud personal history with the award.

Ronaldo is, after all, the second-most decorated player in the prize's history having been named the best male footballer of the year in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

By comparison, the trio of Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten are the only players to have collected a hat-trick of Ballon d'Or titles, while Lionel Messi - of course - continues to lead the way on seven gongs.

And as Ballon d'Or fever amps up ahead of the latest ceremony on Monday night, it only makes sense - therefore - that memories involved Ronaldo's long association with the prize are coming to mind right now.

One of which came during the 2014 ceremony where the then Real Madrid superstar held off competition from Messi and Manuel Neuer to retain his status as the top dog in the sport.

However, it wasn't necessarily Ronaldo's triumph in general that was so unique as to be revisited all these years on, but rather the manner in which he celebrated the achievement in Zurich.

That's because, having rounded off his victory speech by thanking everyone at Real, Ronaldo decided to mark the occasion by channeling what has now become his iconic 'SIU' celebration.

While, yes, the whole jump, spin and land routine had been in the Ronaldo