Three reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo should win the Best Player in Europe award

UEFA had previously announced a list of 10 players who will be contesting against each other for the UEFABest 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 Blancoshave 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 clubs 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 performingin all competitions, both domestic and international, and at club and national team levels.In this slideshow, we talk about three such reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo should win this prestigious award:

#1 The record-breaking 17 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo finished his Champions League campaign as the tournaments 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 seasonwhen 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 awaitedLa Decima, but he also broke new ground in the tournament netting 17 goals, an all time high now.

Cristiano Ronaldo as the tournaments highest scorer. [UEFA.com]

Ronaldosstatistics 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

He has also closed down by a big margin on the record set by another Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzales, who holds the record of scoring the highest number of goals in the tournaments history, 71 in total, four more than Ronaldo and Barcelonas Lionel Messi.

His tally also tied him for the most goals scored in European tournaments in a single season with Monacos Radamel Falcao who had done that with Porto in their title-winning Europa League campaign. Interestingly,Ronaldo had scored the same number of goals in 11 matches, three less than Falcaos.

Another bizarre record that the Portuguese was able to clinch was that he had outscored or equaledseveral of the major European teams including the likes of his former club Manchester United (17), Napoli (10), AC Milan (9), Arsenal (9)and Juventus (9).

#2 Highest scorer in the league, and joint-Golden Shoe winner

Despite Real Madrids 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 Barcelonas 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.

Ronaldosstatistics 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