The results are in! We pretty much knew it was going to happen, but it has finally been confirmed: Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo has won his fifth Ballon d’Or.
What a year it’s been for Cristiano Ronaldo. As if it wasn’t enough that he won the La Liga and Champions League trophies last season, he now gets to add another individual award to his trophy cabinet. Ronaldo has been voted the winner of the 2017 Ballon d’Or, an award recognizing the best individual player over the course of a season. And we all know just how much this trophy means to Cristiano, who has long strived to make his mark as the best player in the game.
It’s hard to say anyone else deserved the award more. Yes, Messi has been enjoying a stellar start to his campaign this season. But after only winning the Copa del Rey last season, and with Ronaldo being at the center of his team’s operations for their Double winning season, Ronaldo deserves to just edge out Messi for the title.
The Real Champs’ Aakanksha Sharma wrote recently about all the reasons why Ronaldo deserved this award. First and foremost was Ronaldo’s massive contribution in the Champions League:
"Cristiano Ronaldo swept aside all who came in Madrid’s way. Real Madrid were dominant in the knock-out rounds, against arguably the 3 best teams in Europe at that time. While the midfield play was immense, Ronaldo was the biggest reason Madrid walked away with their 12th title."
Ronaldo’s stellar form in the Champions League has only continued into this season. Against Dortmund on Wednesday, the Portuguese attacker became the first player to score in every single Champions League group stage match in the history of the competition.
This should add plenty of fuel to the fire regarding the debate over who is the greatest footballer of all time – Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. Now, both players have five Balon D’ors to their name. Ronaldo also won the award in 2016, which means he’s gotten the best of his rival from Barcelona for two years running.
5 - @Cristiano has won 3 of the last 4 Ballon d'Or to equal Lionel Messi (5 each) as the player with the most editions won ever. Leyend pic.twitter.com/IpPlZDyKiT
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 7, 2017
Many have been wondering for some time now whether CR7 may start to show signs of decline for Real Madrid. Despite his slow goal-scoring start to the season, the man from Madeira has looked in deadly form. He does not look as if his age is slowing him down, and Ronaldo’s unselfish side has been shining through this season. Even when he’s not scoring, he’s been providing assists and key passes to his teammates left and right.
Hopefully this award, combined with his beautiful goal against Dortmund, can provide The Dark Invader some of the confidence he needs to turn on the goals in the La Liga competition. Messi is starting to create an insurmountable lead in the race for the Pichichi, the award for most goals scored in a La Liga campaign. Cristiano will need to step it up if he hopes to catch Messi for that honor, and if he wants to have any hope of pulling off a three-peat.
For now, Real Madrid fans should bask in the glory of knowing that The Best plays in Madrid colors. We in this generation are blessed with getting to watch two of the greatest talents the world has ever known compete week in and week out. Congratulations Ronaldo, on a well-deserved award!
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