UEFA had previously
announced a list of 10 players who will be contesting against each other for the UEFA Best player in Europe award.
Real Madrid had a stellar season this year despite finishing third in their domestic league, winning the Spanish Copa del Rey and their much, much anticipated tenth UEFA Champions League trophy.
However, despite that, amongst the top 10, astonishingly, only 2 players from the Los Blancos have made it to the list, viz., Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a record number of goals, 17 which is the highest any player has ever even able to score in a single tournament, and Angel di Maria, who was one of the club’s most consistent and omnipresent players, scoring the vital goals in the dying moments of the game.
This season marks the fourth installment of the award which was initiated in 2011, and recognises the best player performing in all competitions, both domestic and international, and at club and national team levels.
#1 The record-breaking 17 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo finished his Champions League campaign as the tournament’s highest scorer for the second time in running with his 17 goals, the last time it came around during his Manchester United days in the 2007/08 season when his eight goals, including one in the final against Chelsea, leading the Red Devils to their third Champions League trophy ever.
This year, on the other hand, is a whole different story, as not only he did help Real Madrid overcome their obsession with their much awaited La Decima, but he also broke new ground in the tournament netting 17 goals, an all time high now.
Ronaldo’s statistics in the Champions League
Appearances: 11
Goals: 17
Assists: 4 – third-highest in the tournament with team-mate Karim Benzema.
Attempt at goal: 47 – highest in the tournament.
WhoScored Rating: 8.29
#2 Highest scorer in the league, and joint-Golden Shoe winner
Despite Real Madrid’s poor show in their domestic league campaign this season, Cristiano Ronaldo was successful in topping the goal-scoring charts with his 31 goals from 30 matches, managing an average of more than a goal per match earning him his second ever Pichichi. His 31 league goals surpassed the goal scoring record of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, and then-Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa by three and four goals respectively.
He had also topped the list in Europe, sharing his third Golden Shoe with Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez , who had scored the same number of goals, however with two more matches played.
Ronaldo’s statistics in La Liga
Appearances: 30
Goals: 31
Assists: 9 – tenth highest in the league.
Attempt at goal: 210 – highest in the league.
WhoScored Rating: 8.25
#3 His diligence with Portugal
Despite being warned by surgeons that playing in the World Cup could put a big dent his career as he was suffering from thigh and knee injuries, Cristiano Ronaldo went on to represent Portugal regardless of the consequences.
His Portuguese surgeon, Jose Carlos Noronha had apparently told the forward, “Let your knee rest, or your future is in danger”, but determined Ronaldo defied his orders saying, “I’m the one that says whether I’m playing or not.”
He went onto play for the whole 90 minutes for Portugal against the Germans, and even though his team succumbed to a 4-0 loss, his commitment towards the team earned him utmost respect from fans all around the world.
Ronaldo’s statistics in the World Cup
Appearances: 3
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Attempt at goal: 22
WhoScored Rating: 7.21
