Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning last
season saw him win the 2017 Best Fifa men's player of the year trophy as Real
Madrid dominated a star-studded awards ceremony in London on Monday.
The Portuguese ace, who has scored
44 goals in just 48 games for club and country so far this calendar year,
played a major role in Real winning both La Liga and the Champions League.
He scored twice in a 4-1 win over
Juventus in the continental final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on June 3.
Real boss Zinedine Zidane took the
corresponding manager of the year award, with the Spanish giants providing five
players in the Fifa team of the year.
Ronaldo won the inaugural Best Fifa
men's player of the year award last year following the end of a six-year merger
between the Fifa honour and the Ballon D'Or.
This year he saw off competition
from longstanding Barcelona rival Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain's
Neymar, with former Manchester United favourite Ronaldo receiving his trophy
from Argentina great Diego Maradona and Brazil's Ronaldo in a star-studded
ceremony at the London Palladium theatre.
"Thanks a lot for voting for
me," said the Portuguese superstar.
"I mention Leo and Neymar,
great to be here. Real Madrid supporters, my teammates, my coach, they all
support me all year.
"We are in England for the
first time and I win consecutive awards," he added. "I am really
glad, this is a great moment for me. I have fans all over the world."
Zidane won out ahead of Chelsea's
Antonio Conte and Juventus's Massimiliano Allegri to be crowned men's coach of
the year after becoming the first man to oversee a successful defence of the
European Cup in the Champions League era.
"I'd like to thank all of the
players for making this possible," said Zidane. "This is a very
special prize."
Real's superb campaign was
recognised in a Fifa XI that featured Ronaldo and club-mates Toni Kroos, Luka
Modric, Marcelo and Sergio Ramos.
The team was completed by goalkeeper
of the year Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci, Dani Alves, Andres Iniesta,
Messi and Neymar.
GIROUD WINS BEST GOAL
Veteran Juventus and Italy
shot-stopper Buffon topped a three-strong shortlist for the goalkeeper award
ahead of Real's Keylor Navas and Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer.
"I have to speak in English, it
is a difficult moment," said the 39-year-old Buffon.
"It is a great honour to
receive this award at my age. I am proud.
"The last year has been
fantastic for Juventus and for me personally. It wasn't enough to win in
Europe.
"I would like to finish with a
fantastic victory for Italy next summer (at the 2018 World Cup in
Russia)."
Monday also saw the Puskas Award for
the best goal of 2017 go to Arsenal's Olivier Giroud.
The France striker received the
award named in honour of Hungary great Ferenc Puskas for a spectacular
'scorpion-kick' against Crystal Palace in January.
"I'm delighted to receive this
trophy today in front of legends of football," said Giroud.
The Frenchman's flicked volley with
his left foot that went in off the crossbar won ahead of goals from Venezuela's
Deyna Castellanos, 18, and South African goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke.
Meanwhile tournament hosts the
Netherlands' achievement in winning their first major female football title,
the 2017 Women's European Championship, was recognised with Women's Coach of
the Year and Player of the Year awards for Sarina Wiegman and Lieke Martens
respectively.
Wiegman and Martens were unable to
receive their awards in London as the Netherlands are playing Norway on
Tuesday.
The voting for the Best Fifa awards,
equally weighted between national team captains, national team coaches, media
and fans, closed last month.
© AFP
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