Cristiano Ronaldo Goal 50Goal

Ronaldo, Messi & the winners of the world’s top individual awards from past 12 months

It has been 12 months since Cristiano Ronaldo lifted the Goal 50 prize for 2016, with the Portugal and Real Madrid superstar following that triumph with many more personal honours. However, the 32-year-old has not had it all his way in the past year, with many other major names picking up individual awards.

Ronaldo's long-term rival for greatest player in the world - and former Goal 50 winner Lionel Messi - topped the goalscoring charts in La Liga, which also saw him take the European Golden Shoe award. Although Ronaldo could not match Messi's 37 La Liga goals, he was the Champions League's top scorer with 12 goals as Madrid lifted the trophy.

Many of the award winners gained greater prominence thanks to their excellent campaigns, with the likes of Ederson and Nelson Semedo both earning transfers away from Benfica - to Manchester City and Barcelona respectively. Similarly, Ousmane Dembele became the world's second most expensive player after winning the Bundesliga Best Young Player award.

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WORLD AWARD WINNERS


Julian Draxler Claudio Bravo Timo Werner Chile Germany Confederations Cup 07022017Bongarts

After being voted as the winner of the Goal 50 in 2016, Ronaldo has since claimed the Ballon d'Or and the Best FIFA Men's Player awards. But he was outshone at the Confederations Cup where Germany lifted the trophy. Julian Draxler was that competition's star attraction, with Claudio Bravo putting his club woes with Manchester City behind him to be named the best goalkeeper.

New Liverpool signing Dominic Solanke was the best player at the Under-20 World Cup, while Ronaldo was once again the hero as Real Madrid won the Club World Cup, with the Portugal international picking up yet more individual honours.

AwardPlayerTeam
Goal 50Cristiano RonaldoReal Madrid & Portugal
Ballon d'OrCristiano RonaldoReal Madrid & Portugal
The Best FIFA Men's PlayerCristiano RonaldoReal Madrid & Portugal
The Best FIFA Women's PlayerLieke MartensFC Barcelona & USA
Confederations Cup Golden BallJulian DraxlerGermany
Confederations Cup Golden BootTimo WernerGermany
Confederations Cup Golden GloveClaudio BravoChile
U-20 World Cup Golden BallDominic SolankeEngland
U-20 World Cup Golden BootRiccardo OrsoliniItaly
U-20 World Cup Golden GloveFreddie WoodmanEngland
FIFA Club World Cup Golden BallCristiano RonaldoReal Madrid
FIFA Club World Cup Golden BootCristiano RonaldoReal Madrid
FIFA Puskas AwardOlivier GiroudArsenal

EUROPEAN AWARD WINNERS


Harry Kane Golden Boot 21052017Getty

With Messi and Ronaldo facing off again for the major European awards, Gianluigi Buffon was rewarded for his Champions League performances by being named the competition's Goalkeeper of the Season. Madrid's trophy-winning run saw Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos also receive awards, while Paul Pogba won Europa League Player of the Season.

Tottenham's Harry Kane edged out Everton's Romelu Lukaku for the Premier League Golden Boot, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Edinson Cavani and Edin Dzeko all leading the domestic scoring charts in Germany, France and Italy, respectively.

AwardPlayerTeam
European Golden ShoeLionel MessiBarcelona
UEFA Best Player in EuropeCristiano RonaldoReal Madrid
Champions League Golden BootCristiano RonaldoReal Madrid
Champions League Goalkeeper of the SeasonGianluigi BuffonJuventus
Champions League Defender of the SeasonSergio RamosReal Madrid
Champions League Midfielder of the SeasonLuka ModricReal Madrid
Champions League Forward of the SeasonCristiano RonaldoReal Madrid
Europa League Golden BootEdin DzekoRoma
Europa League Player of the SeasonPaul PogbaManchester United
European U-21 Championship Player of the TournamentDani CeballosSpain
European U-21 Championship Golden BootSaulSpain
Bundesliga Golden BootPierre-Emerick AubameyangBorussia Dortmund
Bundesliga Footballer of the YearPhilipp LahmBayern Munich
Bundesliga Rookie of the YearOusmane DembeleBorussia Dortmund
Eredivisie Footballer of the YearKarim El AhmadiFeyenoord
Eredivisie Young Player of the YearKasper DolbergAjax
Eredivisie Top ScorerNicolai JorgensenFeyenoord
La Liga Best PlayerAntoine GriezmannAtletico Madrid
La Liga Best GoalkeeperJan OblakAtletico Madrid
La Liga Best Foreign PlayerLuis SuarezBarcelona
La Liga Best Breakthrough PlayerMarco AsensioEspanyol
La Liga Trofeo PichichiLionel MessiBarcelona
Ligue 1 Golden BootEdinson CavaniPSG
Ligue 1 Player of the YearEdinson CavaniPSG
Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the YearDanijel SubasicMonaco
Ligue 1 Young Player of the YearKylian MbappeMonaco
Primeira Liga Player of the YearPizziBenfica
Primeira Liga Breakthrough PlayerNelson SemedoBenfica
Primeira Liga Best GoalkeeperEdersonBenfica
Primeria Liga Golden BootBas DostSporting CP
Premier League Golden BootHarry KaneTottenham
Premier League Players' Player of the YearN'Golo KanteChelsea
Premier League Players' Young Player of the YearDele AlliTottenham
Serie A Footballer of the YearLeonardo BonucciJuventus
Serie A CapocannoniereEdin DzekoRoma

AFRICAN AWARD WINNERS


Riyad Mahrez African Footballer of the Year 05012017

CAF handed out its three major awards to English-based players in 2016, with Riyad Mahrez picking up the African Footballer of the Year trophy after helping Leicester City lift the Premier League for the first time in their history. Young Nigeria duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi's achievements were also recognised, while Uganda's Denis Onyango was named as the best player currently playing in Africa.

Christian Bassogog took time out from his club duties with Chinese Super League side Henan Jianye to help Cameroon win the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring twice en route to the final, including in the 2-0 semi-final victory over Ghana. He was named Africa Cup of Nations Man of the Competition for his impact.

AwardPlayerTeam
African Footballer of the YearRiyad MahrezLeicester City & Algeria
CAF Most Promising Talent of the YearKelechi IheanachoManchester City & Nigeria
CAF Youth Player of the YearAlex IwobiArsenal & Nigeria
African Inter-Club Player of the YearDenis OnyangoMamelodi Sundowns & Uganda
Africa Cup of Nations Man of the CompetitionChristian BassogogCameroon
Africa Cup of Nations Top ScorerJunior KabanangaDR Congo
CAF Champions League Top ScorerTaha Yassine KhenissiES Tunis
CAF Confederation Cup Top ScorerJeremy BrockieSuperSport United

ASIAN & OCEANIAN AWARD WINNERS


Hulk of Shanghai SIPGGetty Images

Former Zenit St Petersburg forward Hulk finished the season as AFC Champions League Top Scorer, with North Korean striker Kim Yu-song doing the same in the AFC Cup. Shinji Okazaki was also rewarded for his contribution to Leicester's Premier League win with a trophy of his own, while PEC Zwolle's Ryan Thomas picked up the Oceania Footballer of the Year Award.

AwardPlayerTeam
Asian Player of the YearOmar AbdulrahmanAl-Ain & UAE
Asian International Player of the YearShinji OkazakiLeicester City & Japan
Asian Young Player of the YearRitsu DoanGamba Osaka & Japan
AFC Champions League Top ScorerHulkShanghai SIPG
AFC Cup Top ScorerKim Yu-songApril 25
Oceania Footballer of the YearRyan ThomasPEC Zwolle & New Zealand
OFC Champions League Golden BallAngel BerlangaAuckland City
OFC Champions League Golden BootJoao MoreiraAuckland City
OFC Champions League Golden GloveEnaut ZubikaraiAuckland City

NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICAN AWARD WINNERS


David Villa Don Garber NYCFC 12062016Getty Images

David Villa's exploits in Major League Soccer did not go unnoticed at home or in the United States as he was named the MLS MVP and also received his first international call-up to the Spain squad in three years.

Costa Rica's international duo of Keylor Navas and Bryan Ruiz picked up two of CONCACAF's biggest individual accolades as Goalkeeper of the Year and Player of the Year, while Canada's Alphonso Davies received two awards for the Gold Cup after ending as the tournament's top scorer.

AwardPlayerTeam
CONCACAF Player of the YearBryan RuizSporting CP & Costa Rica
CONCACAF Goalkeeper of the YearKeylor NavasReal Madrid & Costa Rica
CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden BallMichael BradleyUSA
CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden BootAlphonso DaviesCanada
CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden GloveAndre BlakeJamaica
CONCACAF Gold Cup Young Player AwardAlphonso DaviesCanada
CONCACAF Champions League Golden BallFranco JaraPachuca
CONCACAF Champions League Golden BootHirving LozanoPachuca
CONCACAF Champions League Golden GloveAlfonso BlancoPachuca
CONCACAF Champions League Best Young PlayerHirving LozanoPachuca
CFU Club Championship Top ScorerBabalitoCibao
MLS MVP (2016)David VillaNew York City FC
MLS Rookie of the Year (2017)Julian GresselAtlanta United
MLS Newcomer of the Year (2016)Nicolas LodeiroSeattle Sounders
MLS Golden Boot (2017)Nemanja NikolicChicago Fire

SOUTH AMERICAN AWARD WINNERS


Miguel Borja y Reinaldo Rueda Mejores de América

Miguel Borja was a surprise winner of the South American Footballer of the Year Award, pipping Gabriel Jesus to the trophy thanks to his goalscoring achievements in the Copa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores with Atletico Nacional. Jonathan Calleri's nine goals helped Sao Paulo reach the last four of the Copa Libertadores, before Atletico Nacional lifted the trophy for the second time.

AwardPlayerTeam
South American Footballer of the YearMiguel BorjaAtletico Nacional & Colombia
Copa Libertadores Top ScorerJonathan CalleriSao Paulo
Copa Libertadores Best PlayerAlejandro GuerraAtletico Nacional
Copa Sudamericana Top ScorerMiguel BorjaAtletico Nacional

The Goal 50 is an annual award that both recognises and ranks the world's 50 best footballers of the preceding 12 months. Chief editors and correspondents from Goal's 37 editions around the world all cast their votes, with candidates judged on their level of consistency over the previous year of action, their big-game performances, footballing legacy and the success of their teams at both club and international level.

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