Ronaldo retains FIFA award for world's best player

Real Madrid's Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the best soccer player in the world for the second year running at FIFA's The Best awards gala on Monday. The four-time Ballon d'Or winner won a La Liga and Champions League double with the Madrid club this year, striking twice against Juventus in the European Cup final to help Real become the first team to retain the trophy in its current format.

Amazing feeling to have won this award again. Want to dedicate to my family, my friends, my teammates and coaches from both Real Madrid and Portuguese NT and everyone who supported me. pic.twitter.com/umpYMo1JZg

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 23, 2017

Barcelona's Argentina forward Lionel Messi, who has won the Ballon d'or five times, and Paris St Germain's Brazil forward Neymar were runners up for the award voted for by national team coaches and captains plus the media and fans. The Best FIFA Men's Player award and the Ballon d'or, which is voted for only by the media, are now separate awards. Real Madrid's French coach Zinedine Zidane won the manager of the year trophy for his part in the club's success.

Congratulations, ??Zinedine Zidane! ? Winner of #TheBest FIFA Men's Coach 2017 ? pic.twitter.com/fHTc3R1Q76

— #TheBest ? (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

Five Real players were named in the best XI of the year, with Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos joining Ronaldo, while Messi, Neymar, Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Dani Alves (PSG), Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan) and Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) were also selected.

Your FIFA FIFPro #World11 for 2017 ?#TheBest pic.twitter.com/h8gNrTpMiX

— #TheBest ? (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

What a great honour to present @gianluigibuffon with the Fifa Best Goalkeeper trophy this evening in The London Paladium. pic.twitter.com/g6Gg19d11o

— Peter Schmeichel (@Pschmeichel1) October 23, 2017

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud won the Puskas Award for the best goal of the year, which was the Frenchman's scorpion kick against Crystal Palace, and Buffon was declared best goalkeeper.

Very proud and honored to receive this trophy! Thanks again everyone for supporting me! #TheBestFIFAFootballAwards2017#PuskasAward2017 ???? pic.twitter.com/jeevVWje2y

— Olivier Giroud (@_OlivierGiroud_) October 23, 2017

The Netherlands' Lieke Martens won best female player of the year, while the Dutch women's national team coach Sarina Weigman was voted best manager after the team's triumph at Euro 2017.

See who was crowned #TheBest at the FIFA Football Awards 2017 ? @TwitterMoments ⚡️https://t.co/2iKwuUqRr2

— #TheBest ? (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017