Cristiano Ronaldo thinks 2016 has been the greatest of his extraordinary career. The 31-year-old, who is vying with Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award, helped Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup, netting a hat-trick in a thrilling 4-2 victory over Kashima Antlers in the latter’s final. Furthermore, Ronaldo propelled Portugal to an unforeseen UEFA EURO conquest, and went joint-fourth on the list of the highest-scoring Europeans in international football history, behind Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis and Miroslav Klose.

"Collectively and individually, it was probably my best year so far,” said the man who enjoyed blinding years with Manchester United in 2008 and Real in 2014. “We won a major title with Portugal's national team for the first time. We won the Champions League, the Club World Cup. I couldn’t have asked for more.

"The people who still doubt me, Real Madrid and the national team, they now have the proof. We won everything.

"So it has been an amazing year and I am very happy with it. I want to thank my team-mates from the national team and Real Madrid."

The Best FIFA Men’s Player will be crowned at The Best FIFA Football Awards™ ceremony in Zurich on 9 January 2017.