Monday night's Ballon d'Or ceremony brought an end to 2019's individual awards and Lionel Messi was the big winner on the night, for his sixth triumph.
Virgil van Dijk was second and behind the Dutchman came Cristiano Ronaldo, who was absent on the night.
The Portuguese has lost out this year. Beyond winning Serie A with Juventus, not that they struggled to do that before his arrival, and the Nations League with Portugal, he was left feeling something that a number of players have felt in the last decade.
Cristiano left Real Madrid looking for glory and happiness, but he's been left feeling cold away from the Spanish capital.
It's true that on the same evening he was named the best player in Serie A, but he'd have preferred to be in Paris over Milan and it's clear that Juventus haven't given him what he was looking for.
Just as he's struggled without Madrid, they've suffered without him. The No.7 was a reference for the club for the best part of a decade, but Zinedine Zidane does now seem to be, finally, steadying the ship.
Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil and even Gonzalo Higuain are other players to have left Madrid for sporting reasons, but none of them saw their careers project as planned either.
Di Maria has enjoyed himself at Paris Saint-Germain, but at a lower level than he'd have liked, Ozil's career has taken a sharp decline and Higuain has changed club four times without hitting the heights he expected to reach.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still among the best and nobody doubts that, but his Real Madrid exit has come at a cost.
Azam777
3131
he should get a RM jacket to feel the warmth!!!!
Cusademtyz
1214
Some guys don't use their senses when commenting on a matter, it was Madrid decision to let CR7 leave because of Bale and Zeden even left Madrid for the same reason. Ronaldo would have love to stay put in Madrid, I hate the politice in football.
UzairAsad7
615
come back please
Heukloptz
429
The earlier the better Cristiano and fans understands that his strength is reducing by each day! Same Will surely happen to messi and everyone. At 33 brother you can never do what you used to do at 25, old age is inevitable.
__kat02
399
Most players who were in top 30 ballon dors were present , players who weren't in top 30 were also present , what I like about Cris is that even if he knew he was in top 3 he didn't go bcoz he was not happy with himself , this guy is never happy with the second best , he wants to be the best , many people may see his absence as a sign of disrespect but for me this attitude of his is what I like , he inspires me , he is my fav player and will always be ❤️
FAPIO21_cityzen
261
when he was with messi he was great and made efforts becoz he didn't like to lose infront of his rival . while today he is warm on the bench
sunnysayus
161
But seriously speaking is it Messi that is that good or La liga that has it all(the power,the politics and the manoeuvering?
Heukloptz
152
it is easier to find players and coaches alike to stabilize Madrid and win more trophies than for Ronaldo to get another club aside Madrid to win him balon d'or. Sometimes it's not nice to make hasty decision!!!
Gopan Ameshu
121
The sad reality is, He should have won atleast one more i.e 6th if he stays in Madrid but due to his age and decline he seems to have lose his magic as per the present conditions especially with Juventus playing more defensive game and with Sarri as the coach. Also Dybala is playing good that takes away some credit from the great Cr7.. Sad but he will not win the next year too at this rate....
Pop Shubhojit Das
39
Excuse me man,he is Cristiano, damn we need that old Cristiano back full of ego the reason he was successful, humbleness in not for him, Come on man, show them , they r comparing with you with some normal players, Show the world who Cristiano is, Man he is machine, may be after sometime it's slow down, but after some mechanical adjustment it's runs properly , show them who is the boss, We liked that angry Ronaldo, Vamos,,, I know man you'll be the until your 40s... Viva Ronaldo...