Manchester United forward, Cristiano Ronaldo was honored at 2021 The Best FIFA Football Awards on Monday, January 17, 2022. He won the FIFA Special Best Award in recognition of his goalscoring exploits in Portugal’s national team.
Recall that in September 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 110th goal for Portugal’s national team which was enough to break Ali Daei’s all-time highest goalscorer record in the history of international football.
Since then, the former Real Madrid forward who left Juventus last summer to return to Manchester United has scored additional five goals to take his international goals tally to 115 goals.
To date, Ronaldo remains the highest goalscorer in men’s international football which forced the world football governing body, FIFA, to award him the FIFA Special Best Award in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday.
After the 36-year-old Portuguese football star was named the winner of the award, he took to his Instagram page to share a lengthy reaction. In his reaction, Ronaldo described the award as “a tremendous honor and a huge privilege”.
According to the Portuguese football icon who has won 5 Ballon d’Or, and two FIFA The Best awards said the FIFA Special Best Award is the pinnacle of his individual achievement in international football.
Ronaldo who is currently trying to help Manchester United to return to the top four on the Premier League table said the award could become an extra fuel and motivation to help him and his teammates at Manchester United to achieve the club’s goals this season.
“Winning The FIFA Special Best Award is a tremendous honor and a huge privilege,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.
“The fact that such a relevant institution chose to recognize me as the Top Goalscorer in the history of FIFA competitions is, for me, the pinnacle of my individual achievements in the representation of my beloved country.
“Now, it’s up to me to turn this award into extra fuel and motivation to help achieve all our goals at Man. United for this season, as well as to the upcoming play-off matches in March, so that Portugal can be at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and we can all keep writing this amazing story together.
“Last but not least, a special word to all the tremendous players that represented Portugal by my side over the last two decades, and to all the international players that I faced so many times all around the globe. Your talent, your professionalism, and your quality always contributed to making me a better player.”
Though things have not been going too well for Manchester United so far this season, yet, Ronaldo has managed to score 14 goals and provided three assists in 22 games in all competitions for the Red Devils.
The 36-year-old football star who will turn 37-year-old on February 5, 2022, just recovered from a hip flexor injury. After missing Manchester United 1-0 win over Aston in a FA Cup third-round match and United’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in a Premier League game, Ronaldo is expected to return against Brentford on Wednesday, January 19.
His current contract with Manchester United will expire on June 30, 2023. If he continues to remain relevant at the club before then, Manchester United have the option to extend his stay.
