WORLD EXCLUSIVE: The Real Madrid star is honoured
to top Goal's list for the third time, but says team
glory is what really motivates him and he wants
more silverware in 2014-15
By Alberto Pinero & Ben Hayward
For the second time in three years and third time
overall, Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the Goal 50
award for the finest footballer over a single season.
The prestigious prize, chosen by Goal's 600 editors,
is the final accolade in a crowning campaign that will
live long in the memory.
When Ronaldo inaugurated his own personal
museum in Madeira last December, some mocked
the Portuguese for the scarce amount of silverware
he had claimed in his first four seasons at Real
Madrid, while others pointed to the long list of titles
won by Lionel Messi. As has been the case so often in
his career, however, Ronaldo silenced the critics.
Goal was present as he cut the tape to unveil his
collection in Funchal, presenting him with an
updated version of the 2012 trophy which is
currently on display. Now he has another one to sit
alongside it.
"It’s a very big honour for me to have been chosen as
the best player," Ronaldo told Goal after his latest
triumph.
"I’m sincerely grateful for this award. I also want to
thank the fans for their support and for their passion
for the game, which is what makes this sport so
fascinating throughout the world."
The year began with his second Ballon d'Or. He
added a second Pichichi prize to his collection by
topping the goal charts in La Liga and another Golden
Shoe for Europe's leading scorer after he netted 31
times in the Primera Division to tie with former
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. He has now become
only the second player - alongside Messi - to win the
Goal 50 award for a third time.
"Over and above individual prizes, I have always
maintained that it’s the teams, your team-mates and
the fans that make each of us better as footballers,"
Ronaldo added. "Therefore, I’m convinced that I
wouldn’t have been able to win this award without
the constant support from all the people at Real
Madrid."
Without his goals, however, Madrid almost certainly
would not have enjoyed such spectacular success in
2013-14. Even though Cristiano missed the final of
the Copa del Rey as Real beat Barcelona, he had hit
three goals en route to the Mestalla showpiece, while
his 17 strikes in the Champions League represents a
new record, surpassing the mark of 14 in a single
edition of the continental competition set by Jose
Altafini in 1962-63 and Messi in 2011-12.
Remarkably, those 17 goals came in just 11 games
as Ronaldo became the first player to score in eight
consecutive Champions League matches. He also
netted in every round of the knockout phase,
including two in the 4-0 win at Bayern Munich in the
semi-finals and a penalty in the 4-1 extra-time
victory against Atletico that sealed the trophy in
Lisbon.
"Was there room in his museum for La Decima?" a
Spanish journalist had asked Ronaldo in December.
"There's always room for La Decima," he replied.
Winner | Ronaldo receives the Goal 50 trophy from
Editorial Director Graham Shaw in Los Angeles
In 2013-14, Ronaldo fired Portugal past Sweden in
their World Cup play-off with all four of his side's
goals in the two-legged tie to seal a place at Brazil
2014. He also became the nation's all-time top
goalscorer by surpassing former team-mate Pauleta
(47 international goals) and reached 50 strikes for
his country at the World Cup, where he was some
way short of full fitness and ultimately unable to help
his team avoid an early exit from the competition -
the only low point in what is his most memorable
year to date.
Now, he's back in full training with Madrid and after
collecting the Goal 50 trophy from Editorial Director
Graham Shaw at the club's summer base in Los
Angeles, he's raring to go again. The club will
compete for six titles in 2014-15 and Ronaldo wants
them all.
"My aims for the coming season are the same as
always: to fight from the start of every training
session to the last minute of every match,"