FIFA Best Player 2018: Ranking the 10 Nominees

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid / Portugal)

Cristiano Ronaldo lifted his fifth Champions League trophy this season

Say what you will about the Portuguese forward, but the Champions League is one competition that he can now call his own. To be the top goalscorer for one or two seasons makes you world class. To do it for six seasons in a row is unheard of!

Yet again, Ronaldo was the Champions League's top goalscorer with 15 goals as Real Madrid accomplished the three-peat and won their fourth title in five seasons.

He had struggled in La Liga in the first half of the season but exploded into life at the turn of the year to finish second on the goalscoring list behind Messi.

And at the World Cup - a tournament where he had previously scored just one goal per edition - he kicked things off with a superb hat-trick against Iberian rivals Spain. His late free-kick saw Portugal level the score at 3-3 and it set the tone for the World Cup.

Ronaldo eventually finished with four goals in the tournament as Portugal were knocked out by a much stronger Uruguay but, as the skipper, he had done more for his country in this edition than his two previous campaigns combined.

But his overwhelming popularity with Real Madrid fans (and now Juventus after his transfer) will mostly see Ronaldo win this award yet again.