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What's the story?
The second annual BEST FIFA awards are scheduled to be held on Monday, the 23rd of October, in the Palladium Theatre in London (between 12.00 AM and 3.30 AM on Tuesday morning in India - we will, of course, bring you live coverage of the event) and much anticipation has been built up as FIFA try to replace the Ballon d'Or as the pre-eminent football award - the one everyone wants to win.
Last year, the winner was Cristiano Ronaldo, as voted in by a collection of coaches, captains, journalists, and supporters from all over the world and this time, if reports in reputed Spanish daily Marca are to be believed, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to sweep away with his second BEST FIFA player of the award - making it 2 in 2 for the great Portuguese superstar. As already known, Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. will round off the podium.
In case you didn't know
Moving away from the traditional annual timeframe that the Ballon d'Or endorses and like it did in its inaugural edition, FIFA BEST awards is now being given for the performances of individuals/teams over the course of a season... in this case, 2016-17.
Cristiano Ronaldo, and Real Madrid, were, of course, indomitable in their successful pursuit of their first Champions League and La Liga double in half-a-century and it's but natural that Ronaldo walks away with the prize (if the reports are correct, of course)
The heart of the matter
Marca also go on to claim that Real Madrid sweep the award ceremony and walk away with most of the prizes - including Zinedine Zidane as Best Coach (he finished behind Ranieri last year), and having five Real Madrid players included in the World XI - Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, and Ronaldo.
However, in the goalkeeping category, Keylor Navas (and Manuel Neuer) will be beaten by the great Italian Gianluigi Buffon, or so the reports claim.
Has there ever been a better BIG MATCH player?
Author's Take
True, or not, there's little argument that Cristiano Ronaldo actually deserves the award - even if Lionel Messi had a stunning year alongside him. The trophies his goals won merely back him up.
Now to wait till Monday to see if these leaks are actually correct!
