01 January,2017 12:20 PM IST | | Noel D'Souza
The year 2016 couldn’t have got any better for Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo. The string of major awards began in May when Real Madrid lifted their 11th Champions League title
The year 2016 couldn't have got any better for Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo. The string of major awards began in May when Real Madrid lifted their 11th Champions League title. It was Ronaldo's third triumph in Europe's elite competition after winning with Manchester United in 2008 and the Galacticos in 2014.
With the maroon jersey, he captained Portugal to their first ever major international title by winning the Euro 2016. He then bagged his fourth Ballon d'Or in December and later won the FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid.
The superstar capped off what has turned out to be a great 2016 by winning the best player of the year title at Dubai Globe
Soccer Awards.
This year promises to be yet another memorable one. The Best FIFA Men's Player will be crowned on January 9. The 31-year-old, who is vying with French footballer Antoine Griezmann and Argentine Lionel Messi for the award, once again is right at the forefront to grab it.
The 31-year-old Ronaldo now faces a major challenge in 2017 -- fitness and the ability to carry his form right through the year. And he doesn't have age on his side.
As far his club career goes, rumours of CR7's future at the Santiago Bernabéu, which earlier looked bleak, have now faded away after he reportedly declined a 300 million Euros offer by an unnamed Chinese Super League club. On the international circuit, another World Cup for Portugal would be a far-fetched notion. However, given his imperious form on the field, the inevitable might just occur.
