2021 Best FIFA Football Awards: Cristiano Ronaldo wins FIFA Special Award

Manchester United player and footballing legend Cristiano Ronaldo has won the FIFA Special Award at the 2021 Best FIFA Football Awards.

Ronaldo won the award after losing out on a nomination for the Best Men’s Player, which was won by prolific Poland and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.

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However, Ronaldo hit several highs in 2021, becoming the all time top-scorer in men’s international football when he scored twice against the Republic of Ireland in September.

Subsequently, in December, Ronaldo’s double in a 3-2 victory against long-time rivals Arsenal in the Premier League took the Portuguese legend into the 800 goals club, the only player yet to have reached the seemingly impossible mark.

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2021 also saw the 36-year-old become the highest-ever scorer in the European Championships, with the Portuguese maestro becoming the first-ever player to score in five consecutive Euros.

Ronaldo also became the fastest player in the history of Italian side Juventus to score 100 goals, prior to his much celebrated return to Manchester United. If that wasn’t all, an 89th minute goal against Spezia in March 2021 saw Ronaldo become the first-ever player to score 20+ goals in 12 consecutive seasons in the top five European leagues.

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The former Real Madrid man went on to surpass his former Real Madrid teammate Iker Casillas in 2021 to become the highest capped player in the history of the UEFA Champions League.

With 34 trophies to his name, Ronaldo is also the only player to have won all domestic titles in England, Spain, and Italy, and the 36-year-old does not look like he’s about to slow down.