Internet Desk: As expected, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo beats Real Madrid team-mate Pepe & Sporting Lisbon custodian Rui Patricio to win Portugal’s best footballer of the previous year. Cristiano Ronaldo was honoured on Monday evening as he was named ‘Player of the Year’ at the annual Gala Quinas de Ouro awards ceremony in Lisbon.
Ronaldo, who won the Champions League with Real Madrid before captaining Portugal to an unlikely triumph at Euro 2016, has already won the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA Best award for his contributions to the game last year.
Upon receiving his award, Ronaldo said: ‘I want to thank my team-mates from Real Madrid and the Selecao, the coach and the staff, and all the Portuguese who were very important in winning the European Championship.
‘They made us believe that teams that are not favourites can also win.’
Ronaldo was infamously forced off during the final against France with a knee injury but continued to give instructions to his players from the touchline before Eder scored the winning goal in extra time.As expected
In the other categories, Bayern Munich star Renato Sanches was named Portugal’s ‘Revelation Player’, given to the most impressive footballer under the age of 21.
Sanches had already signed for the German giants prior to his very impressive campaign in France in which he appeared in six of Portugal’s seven matches and scored a crucial goal against Poland in the quarter-finals.
The 19-year-old has been limited to much more of a bit-part role under Carlo Ancelotti this season but is expected to get much more playing time when Xabi Alonso hangs up his boots.
Portugal manager Fernando Santos was heavy favourite to win Coach of the Year and understandably beat Benfica’s Rui Vitoria and Portimonense manager Vitor Oliveira to the award.