Ronaldo For Portugal’s Top Player Award

Cristiano Ronaldo has been nominated for the Portugal FA’s Player of the Year award for 2017 along with his national teammates Bernardo Silva of Manchester City and Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

Ronaldo, 33, had a tremendous year in which Real Madrid won five trophies — including the Champions League and La Liga double — and he won a fifth Ballon d’Or as well as FIFA Best Player and UEFA player of the year.

Portugal’s Quinas de Ouro (Golden Shields) awards are in their third year and are organised jointly by the Federaco Portuguesa de Futebol (Portuguese FA), the Associacao Nacional dos Treinadores de Futebol (National Football Coaches Association) and the Sindicato dos Jogadores Profissionais de Futebol (Professional Football Players Union).

The president of the organising committee is former Portugal, Madrid and Barcelona star Luis Figo.

In addition to the complete list of nominees, voting will be held online ahead of a gala at Lisbon’s Pavilhao Carlos Lopes on March 19 — the start of the next international break. Ronaldo is heavy favourite to win again this year, having taken the prize in both 2015 and 2016.

Nominated for the “revelation” young player of the year award are Valencia’s Goncalo Guedes, who is on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Benfica defender Ruben Dias and futsal star Edgar Varela.

The coach of the year award will be given to one of Monaco’s Leonardo Jardim, Shakhtar Donetsk’s Paulo Fonseca and Benfica’s Rui Vitoria.

Source: ESPN FC