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#2 He still delivered when it mattered most
When detractors want to back up their claim that Ronaldo is not deserving of the Ballon d'Or, they are quick to point out that he scored 'just' 28 goals in all competitions and failed to lead Juventus to Champions League glory which is why he was bought to Turin in the first place.
However, given his advancing age and adaptability to a new league, it would be foolhardy to expect the same level of performance from previous years.
Moreover, it is pertinent to note that throughout the course of the season, Ronaldo has always stepped up to be counted on the stages when it mattered most.
It was his well-taken header in December last year which decided the 2018 Super Coppa Italia in Juventus' favor over AC Milan in Saudi Arabia to hand him his first trophy in Bianconeri colors.
Fast forward three months; with Juventus' Champions League hopes in the balance having posted a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg, there was Ronaldo again, rising to the occasion.
Against a defensively solid side like Atletico having a 2-0 lead to protect against any other team or player in the world, the tie is practically over, but that is not the case with Ronaldo as he has shown over the years.
In the last eight, he overcame injury setbacks to score goals in both legs for Juventus and even though that was not enough to stop their elimination, it was not for his lack of trying, as he was the only player who scored goals in the knockout stage for the club.
On the international scene as well, he shone brightly. He sat out all of Portugal's group stage matches of the Nations League having taken a well deserved break from national duties since the 2018 Word Cup, but he returned in all his glory in the semifinal fixture, scoring a hat-trick (his seventh for Portugal and 53rd in his career) to take Portugal to the final of the Nations League where they ultimately triumphed.
Over the years, Ronaldo has proven to be arguably the biggest big-game player in history and he once more stepped to the plate last season so is more than deserving of the Ballon d'Or.
