FIFA actually got something right on Monday when it awarded Cristiano Ronaldo The Best FIFA Men’s Player of 2017 at the FIFA award show. Lieke Martens was named The Best Women’s Player while Olivier Giroud claimed the Puskas Award for the best goal.
Ronaldo won the honor as best men’s player for the second year in a row and was also named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI alongside four of his Real Madrid teammates.
Congratulations, #CristianoRonaldo!
Winner of #TheBest FIFA Men's Player 2017 pic.twitter.com/agzK4mBaci— #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017
Ronaldo led Real Madrid to a second straight Champions League title and another La Liga crown while scoring about a bajillion goals. He had already been named UEFA Men’s Player Of The Year and he’s a favorite to win the only PotY award that actually matters, the Ballon d’Or.
The honor was given to Ronaldo by Brazilian Ronaldo and Diego Maradona, who were apparently having a competition over who could gain the most weight post retirement.
As with every major award in the last decade, it was really only a competition between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The Argentine scored more club goals (54) than Ronaldo (42), but Real Madrid’s team success presumably propelled him ahead of Messi and Barcelona for FIFA Player of the Year.
Along with Messi and Ronaldo, the World XI included: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Dani Alves (PSG), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) and Neymar (PSG). Interesting, I don’t seem to see any English Premier League clubs in that list.
Your FIFA FIFPro #World11 for 2017 #TheBest pic.twitter.com/h8gNrTpMiX
— #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017
Dani Alves won the honor of best dressed among the group.
The Netherlands swept the women’s awards with Martens, who also plays for Barcelona, and coach Sarina Wiegman being named the best in their respective categories. The Netherlands won the Women’s Euros earlier this year in impressive fashion.
Martens beat out American Carli Lloyd, who had won the last two such awards. The other finalist was Deyna Castellanos in a baffling decision from FIFA. Castellanos is a talented young player but she doesn’t even play professionally (she plays for Florida State and the Venezuela U-17 team). For some reason Sam Kerr wasn’t a finalist for FIFA Player of the Year, but Martens deserved the honor anyway.
Congratulations, #LiekeMartens!
Winner of #TheBest FIFA Women's Player 2017 pic.twitter.com/aKaTXHuQnz— #FIFAWWC (@FIFAWWC) October 23, 2017
Congratulations, Sarina Wiegman!
Winner of the #TheBest FIFA Women's Coach 2017 pic.twitter.com/Kjv3gK5ugF— #FIFAWWC (@FIFAWWC) October 23, 2017
Giroud won the Puskas Award for prettiest goal for his incredible scorpion kick goal against Crystal Palace, beating out a number of quality entries. The host of the award show, actor and Arsenal fan Idris Elba, was probably happy to see Giroud win so Arsenal could win at least one trophy this season.
Congratulations, @_OlivierGiroud_!
The Frenchman’s scorpion kick wins the FIFA #Puskás Award 2017 #TheBest pic.twitter.com/xA69neDfoO— #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017
The Puskas winner, courtesy of Olivier Giroud (via @Arsenal) pic.twitter.com/Yy1oE2J7lj
— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) October 23, 2017
Other awards on the night went to the following recipients.
Congratulations, Celtic!
Winners of the FIFA Fan Award 2017 #TheBest pic.twitter.com/ptGJtKU3PQ— #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017
Congratulations, Gianluigi Buffon!
Winner of #TheBest FIFA Goalkeeper 2017 pic.twitter.com/GfWChRvEn2— #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017
Congratulations, Zinedine Zidane!
Winner of #TheBest FIFA Men's Coach 2017 pic.twitter.com/fHTc3R1Q76— #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017
Congratulations, Francis Kone!
Winner of The FIFA Fair Play Award 2017 #TheBest pic.twitter.com/2sre73H4sQ— #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017