Cristiano Ronaldo once again claimed The Best FIFA Men's Player award
for a second straight year on Monday night, beating his regular rivals
for the top prizes {Lionel Messi and Neymar Jnr}.
The Real Madrid star is regarded as the world's greatest footballer by the world game's governing body and he is also the favourite who claim a fifth Ballon d'Or award, which would draw him level with long-time Barcelona rival Messi.
ESPN FC's club correspondents give their verdict on the final podium places, which were announced at the London Palladium.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane quenched any mounted doubts about whether Cristiano Ronaldo was 2017's winner of the award and also gave a very convincing reason why he deserves a fifth Player of the Year award.
"Ronaldo is the best player of his generation, by a long way," Zidane said in the Bernabeu press room following a 3-0 stroll past Eibar. "He has shown that many times. He makes the difference in the big games."
Zidane clearly must back his player, but it is true that "big games" is why Ronaldo is being feted again ahead of Messi or Neymar. It has not been a vintage calendar year for the 32-year-old, but when it really mattered most he hit the purplest patch of his entire career.
In early 2017, the forward was again whistled by the Bernabeu crowd and called "a shadow of himself." He scored just twice in his first eight Champions League games of 2016-17.
Then the business end of the season came, and Ronaldo was phenomenally decisive. An incredible 10 goals from the quarterfinals onward drove Madrid to become the first team to retain the European Cup in the Champions League era.
Meanwhile his great personal rival Messi's dip in form coincided with Barcelona's limp exit to Juventus, who Madrid would beat in the Cardiff final.
The following months brought more swings and roundabouts for Ronaldo. He threatened to leave Spain due to tax issues which have not yet gone away.
The Super Cup featured a superb solo goal, but then a red card and five-game suspension. A personally frustrating 2017-18 so far has him score just one of his first 33 shots at goal in La Liga.
But Zidane is correct. At the very top level, especially for individual awards, the biggest moments count most. And, in 2017, Ronaldo's biggest moments were far bigger than anyone else's. -- Dermot Corrigan
The Real Madrid star is regarded as the world's greatest footballer by the world game's governing body and he is also the favourite who claim a fifth Ballon d'Or award, which would draw him level with long-time Barcelona rival Messi.
ESPN FC's club correspondents give their verdict on the final podium places, which were announced at the London Palladium.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane quenched any mounted doubts about whether Cristiano Ronaldo was 2017's winner of the award and also gave a very convincing reason why he deserves a fifth Player of the Year award.
"Ronaldo is the best player of his generation, by a long way," Zidane said in the Bernabeu press room following a 3-0 stroll past Eibar. "He has shown that many times. He makes the difference in the big games."
Zidane clearly must back his player, but it is true that "big games" is why Ronaldo is being feted again ahead of Messi or Neymar. It has not been a vintage calendar year for the 32-year-old, but when it really mattered most he hit the purplest patch of his entire career.
In early 2017, the forward was again whistled by the Bernabeu crowd and called "a shadow of himself." He scored just twice in his first eight Champions League games of 2016-17.
Then the business end of the season came, and Ronaldo was phenomenally decisive. An incredible 10 goals from the quarterfinals onward drove Madrid to become the first team to retain the European Cup in the Champions League era.
Meanwhile his great personal rival Messi's dip in form coincided with Barcelona's limp exit to Juventus, who Madrid would beat in the Cardiff final.
The following months brought more swings and roundabouts for Ronaldo. He threatened to leave Spain due to tax issues which have not yet gone away.
The Super Cup featured a superb solo goal, but then a red card and five-game suspension. A personally frustrating 2017-18 so far has him score just one of his first 33 shots at goal in La Liga.
But Zidane is correct. At the very top level, especially for individual awards, the biggest moments count most. And, in 2017, Ronaldo's biggest moments were far bigger than anyone else's. -- Dermot Corrigan
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