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Ronaldo, the greatest ever?

7th July, 2016
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Cristiano Ronaldo could be considered the best ever with a Ballon d'Or 2016 win. (AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI)
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7th July, 2016
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After leading his team to Champions League glory in the 2015-16 season, Cristiano Ronaldo could be facing the most crucial 18 months of his career, starting with the Euro final.

In the wake of Lionel Messi’s sudden international retirement, Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates have marched their way to the 2016 European Champion final looking to avenge their 2004 heartbreak.

Despite suffering a slow start to the tournament, Ronaldo burst into life in their final group match, scoring twice and assisting once to see his side scrape through.

With three goals and three assist, he leads the tournament in combined goals and assists. His semi-final goal was his ninth in his fourth Euro tournament, putting him equal first in the history of the competition.

Already assured of his place in European history, all that is needed to secure his status as possible the greatest of all time would be to lift the trophy.

Along with the pride Ronaldo gets from representing his country, his strong showing in the tournament could put him in pole place to win his fourth Ballon d’Or.

After another strong domestic season, scoring 35 goals in 36 league appearances and 16 goals in 12 UCL appearances, he finished third in the European Golden Shoe.

The man who is seen as his greatest competition, Golden Shoe winner Luis Suarez, had another successful season, finishing as La Liga’s top goal scorer, guiding his side to the league and domestic cup titles.

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Despite his success, injury largely prevented Suarez from competing in the Copa America, meaning that Ronaldo’s Euro successes could tip the Ballon d’Or in his favour.

The summer after the 2016-17 campaign is set to be a quiet one internationally, with only the Confederations Cup taking place, so the race for the 2016-17 Ballon d’Or will be solely contested on domestic success.

Having broken the 50-goal barrier for the past six seasons, there is no doubting that Ronaldo’s individual performances will once again put him in contention, but to be guaranteed another golden ball, Real Madrid will need to share in his successes.

Current holder Messi won his record fifth d’Or off the back of a treble winning season with Barcelona and it is this level of success that Ronaldo and Madrid will aim for next season.

Coming off one of his most heavily criticised seasons and nearer to the end of his career then the start, the next 18 months will play a significant role in what will become of his legacy.

Already the first and only player to score in four Euro finals tournaments, a goal in the final will see him as the overall, outright leading goal scorer, a feat unlikely to be matched soon.

A win in the final would give him the ultimate one up on arch rival Messi in the form of an international trophy. These successes would surely see him win his fourth Ballon d’Or, moving him once again closer to Messi.

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Finishing the 2016-17 season with another 50+ goal haul, and at least one of the league title, domestic cup or Champions League would again see him favourite to win his record equaling fifth Ballon d’Or, taking him from great of the game, to arguably the greatest of all time.

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