Goal.com: Ronaldo named as best player of 2017

Real Madrid and Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2017 Goal 50.

The 32-year-old forward retained the title after firing his club to a second successive Champions League triumph, an historic feat that saw him beat Gianluigi Buffon to top spot in our annual vote on the best player in the world over the past 12 months, Goal.com reported.

Buffon finished as a runner-up on the night in question and he also came off second best in our Goal 50 vote.

Ronaldo's club-mate Luka Modric finished third, recognition for the pivotal role he played in Real's success in 2017, with the Croatia midfielder proving particularly decisive in the second-half demolition of Juve in Wales.

Before last year, four-time Goal 50 winner Lionel Messi had never finished outside of the top three but he once again ranked fourth.

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