Ronaldo honoured at FIFA's #TheBest ceremony

Not only has our no.7 been named in the FIFA FIFPRO World XI for 2021, but he is also the recipient of FIFA’s special #THEBEST award, for becoming the all-time record scorer in men's international football, scoring 115 goals for Portugal.

Announced at a glittering ceremony at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday evening, Ronaldo shared his delight at winning the special award. 

“First of all I have to say thank you to my teammates, especially the national team during the last years. I never thought [I would beat] the record, to score 115 - the record was 109, right? I have to say thank you to my family, my wife, my kids. I’m really proud, it's a great achievement.

“I still have the passion for the game. Not just to score goals, but to entertain myself because I played football since I was five or five or six years old.

“When I get on the pitch, even in training, I still enjoy it. My motivation is still there, even though I'm going to be 37 soon. I feel good, I feel motivated.

“I've kept working hard since I was 18 years old and I continue. I love the game, I still have that passion and I want to continue. People ask me sometimes how many more years I'm going to play and I say, 'I hope to play four or five more years'. It is all mental. If you treat your body good, when you need it, it will give back.”

‘THE PINNICLE OF MY INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENTS’

After the ceremony, Ronaldo posted this message to his followers on Instagram: “Winning The FIFA Special Best Award is a tremendous honor and a huge privilege. The fact that such a relevant institution chose to recognize me as the Top Goalscorer in the history of FIFA competitions is, for me, the pinnacle of my individual achievements in representation of my beloved country.

“Now, it’s up to me to turn this award into extra fuel and motivation to help achieving all our goals at Man. United for this season, as well as to the upcoming play-off matches in March, so that Portugal can be at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and we can all keep writing this amazing story together.

“Last but not least, a special word to all the tremendous players that represented Portugal by my side over the last two decades, and to all the international players that I faced so many times all around the globe. Your talent, your professionalism and your quality always contributed to make me a better player. Thank you!”

Ronaldo was one of five Premier League players named in the FIFPRO Team Of the Year, which is the only global player award exclusively voted for by professional footballers. This year almost 19,000 of them casted their vote to decide the world team of the year. 

Here is the 2021 Men’s FIFA FIFPRO World 11 by position and alphabetical order...

Goalkeeper:
Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan/Paris Saint-Germain, Italy)

Defenders:
David Alaba (Bayern Munich/Real Madrid, Austria)
Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus, Italy)
Ruben Dias (Manchester City Portugal)

Midfielders:
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
Jorginho (Chelsea, Italy)
N'Golo Kante (Chelsea, France)

Forwards:
Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund, Norway)
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, Poland)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain, Argentina)
CRISTIANO RONALDO

Congratulations, Ronny!