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Real Madrid and Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo’s year?

He bagged 46 strikes in La Liga, including the famous winner at Camp Nou in April 2012, en route to Real Madrid wrestling the La Liga title away from Barcelona in 2011-12. He dragged Portugal on his back to the semi finals of Euro 2012. Everyone thought this was the Portuguese winger’s year, he would be crowned FIFA Ballon D’Or winner 2012. However, fast forward to January 2012, Lionel Messi won the prestigious individual award and Cristiano was left to look on and applaud the out of this world Argentine. However, as we approach the end of the 2013 calendar year, will Ronaldo finally get his hands on it? Let’s take a look at the Portuguese forward’s case.

To kick things off, Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the highest scorer in Europe, with 66 goals in 2013 so far for club and country, that’s 21 goals more than anyone else, and with Leo Messi out for the remainder of the year, he is obviously going to finish the year on top of the pile. Of those 66 strikes, he has scored 5 hattricks. This season alone he is currently the leading scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League, with 16 to his name in the Spanish championship and a further 8 in the Champions League, that’s together with 5 assists ( 3 in La Liga, 2 in the Champions League ).

There is no question about it. Cristiano Ronaldo has been the best player in the world for the 2013 calendar year, and I take nothing away from him. Fully earned, fully deserved. He is usually poor for his country, but he basically ran the show and took Portugal on his back to World Cup qualification, popping up in the 81st minute in the first leg to win it 1-0 for Portugal and hitting a hattrick in the second leg to seal a 3-2 ( 4-2 agg ) win for his country. This simply reminded us of how great this man is and of his knack for popping up when his club and country need him the most. When the stakes are high, he pops up most times and delivers world class and inspiring performances.

Of course, Real Madrid as a team didn’t really do anything amazing or picked up any major accolades in 2013, but that didn’t stop Lionel Messi from claiming the award in 2012. Despite Bayern Munich’s treble winning season and claims that Franck Ribery should win the award, I think the 28 year old from Madeira is the leading candidate for this year’s edition of the FIFA Ballon d’Or.

I will admit, I am a fan of Barcelona, and for me, Messi will always be number one, but this year, he definitely shouldn’t bring home the Ballon D’Or.

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