For those of you who are familiar with my musings on television over the past several years, you’ll know that I have a bit of a history when it comes to discussing Cristiano Ronaldo.
I have been tough on Ronaldo. Very tough, in fact.
When he broke into the Premier League he dove too much. He whined too much. He cried too much. He was largely responsible for getting Wayne Rooney sent off at the 2006 World Cup—although perhaps if Rooney hadn’t stomped on Ricardo Carvalho to start with the whole saga would have been avoided.
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Ronaldo seemed a little too perfect, too. His hair was exact, and his model good looks and chiseled physique were good reason to dislike him.
Still, you couldn’t deny his ability. Even at Manchester United it was being whispered that perhaps the Red Devils had the best player on the planet. Lionel Messi would shush the whispers, though, tearing up the world football and making himself the game’s unanimous kingpin.
Until this season, that is.
Ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final, Ronaldo has enjoyed his breakthrough campaign. By breakthrough I mean he has managed to nose ahead of Messi; indeed, only a truly one-eyed fan would argue against the point that at this moment in time Ronaldo is the best in the world.
Ronaldo has enjoyed better years from a statistical standpoint. In fact, his 31 La Liga goals seem pedestrian by his standards, but look beyond the numbers.
His rise to absolute dominance received an injection of adrenalin late last year. With nothing to prove as a club superstar, Ronaldo had to constantly fight against the criticism that he had disappointed when playing for his country. That’s totally absurd in my mind, but still he did need that magical “moment” that the vain world of fun and games demands of its heroes.
Against Sweden in the World Cup qualification playoff, Ronaldo had his moment, albeit stretched over two matches. He scored four goals, including a hat trick in the decider, overshadowing by some margin Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a man with the rare ability to match his rival’s ego.
It was the performance Ronaldo needed, and it silenced his few critics.
Earlier this year a feisty Ronaldo took on FIFA and Sepp Blatter. He dealt with Blatter’s insults with class, and would eventually walk away with a deserved Ballon d’Or—this after suggesting that FIFA’s agenda would stifle his pursuit for personal silverware.
A Champions League scoring record would come later in the season, and despite an injury-slowed close to the campaign he managed to exact revenge on Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey.
Such an important season, and it can be highlighted this weekend with a win over Atletico once again, this time in Lisbon.
Ronaldo is the perfect mix—he’s Diego Maradona and Pele and David Beckham all rolled into one. He is what George Best should have been.
Sure, he upsets me. I’ll always be a Messi guy, but I have no problem admitting that right now, as I type, Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world.
James Sharman hosts Soccer Central, weeknights on Sportsnet World and Sportsnet ONE at 7 pm ET. Follow him on Twitter.