43 goals in 47 appearances in 2017, the Champions League, La Liga, Spanish Super Copa, UEFA Supercup and the option of Club World Cup glory, have led Cristiano Ronaldo to claim his second consecutive 'The Best' award.
The Portuguese striker kicked off last season in the midst of heavy criticism due to his poor displays. Far from his usual goalscoring numbers, both he and Zidane said they required time. He would be ready when the team most needed him. The injury he picked up in the Euro 2016 final forced him out of the initial fixtures and saw him become a part of the Frenchman's rotation system, only to finally become a vital figure when it mattered most.
From the Champions League quarter-finals onwards, the Portuguese star was devastating. He netted 22 times between March and May to lift another European trophy and seal Real's La Liga triumph. He was unable to lead Portugal to Confederations Cup victory and played little part in Madrid's UEFA Super Cup win over Manchester United. In the Spanish Super Cup, he scored in the first leg but was banned for the return fixture.
The 2017/18 season has not got off to the best of starts for Ronaldo. But, FIFA's 'The Best' award pertains to full campaigns ranging from August to June as opposed to calendar years. Ronaldo was indeed the best in 2016/17, boasting the numbers worthy of the goalscoring myth he has created as he continues to question Messi's authority. A beast who refuses to back down and leads the line for the best team in Europe.