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Ronaldo and The Best: A Look at The Early Award Years

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Cristiano Ronaldo stands as the most decorated player in the early years of the Best FIFA Men’s Player award, a prize born from the separation from the Ballon d’Or setup with France Football. The award race has entered its fourth edition, highlighting a new era where global football honors are decided through a blend of votes from players, coaches, journalists, and fans. Ronaldo’s journey through these early seasons showcases a remarkable run of individual recognition as the trophy sought to measure excellence across the sport.

The question of how often Ronaldo claimed The Best prize is best answered by looking at the first five ceremonies. He emerged as a dominant force, claiming two titles during the initial years of the award. His first triumph came after an extraordinary period at Real Madrid, where domestic and international successes converged to showcase his scoring prowess and consistent high-level performance.

The inaugural ceremony took place on January 9, 2017. Ronaldo secured the prize with a notable margin, earning 34.5 percent of the votes and finishing ahead of Lionel Messi, who had long been a benchmark in the sport. The margin over Messi underscored Ronaldo’s impact across all competitions that season, including key titles and personal achievements that helped him secure the honor in its new format. Source: Goal

Following an exceptional run that included Champions League glory and continued dominance in domestic leagues, Ronaldo earned a second Best prize in the next edition. That year, Real Madrid continued to collect trophies under the leadership of a legendary manager, as Ronaldo extended his streak of influence on the game. He again topped the voting, this time with a higher percentage that reflected his ongoing contributions to the team and the sport. Source: Goal

By the third edition, the landscape shifted. Ronaldo, now with Juventus, did not repeat the top honor, as Luka Modric captured the award after a standout year that highlighted Real Madrid’s decline in the wake of a changed competitive environment. Ronaldo remained a strong contender and a frequent presence in the discussion, demonstrating how close athletes can be to the pinnacle even when another player takes the ultimate prize. Source: Goal

In 2019, Ronaldo faced stiff competition from the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Lionel Messi, each delivering performances that underscored the depth of talent in the sport. Ronaldo’s season featured a strong series of goals for Juventus and Portugal, including a mix of league success and international competition, yet the prize ultimately went to a defender and a peer who had reached new heights in that year. Source: Goal

The most recent ceremony before the pandemic-impacted season crowned the winner as the voting body adapted to extraordinary circumstances. Ronaldo achieved another level of recognition when, despite a strong showing across various categories, the top honor went to a different player who had dominated the broader landscape of the sport during that period. The final tally demonstrated Ronaldo’s continued relevance and multi-faceted contributions to the game, even as the award shifted in response to global events. Source: Goal

In January 2022, at the The Best 2021 awards gala, Ronaldo received a special accolade that has not been bestowed on any other player to date. The award celebrated the greatest goalscorer of all time, a trophy personally handed to him in a formal moment that marked a notable chapter in the ceremony. This special recognition reinforced Ronaldo’s enduring legacy in football history. Source: Goal

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