11 January,2017 11:15 AM IST | | AFP
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo lambasts media campaign against him after winning the FIFA's World's Best Player award for the fourth time in Zurich
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal's star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo poses with the FIFA Best Player award in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday. Pic/Getty Images
Madrid: Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo claimed he had to overcome media "campaigns" against him to win FIFA's inaugural The Best prize for the world's best player in 2016. Ronaldo lifted the award at a ceremony in Zurich on Monday after a glittering year on the pitch saw him lead Madrid to Champions League glory and captain Portugal to their first ever major international triumph at Euro 2016.
However, Ronaldo's year was blighted by reports from an international consortium of media organisations in December that claimed the Portuguese hid 150 million euros to avoid taxes. Ronaldo, 31, has strongly denied all claims of wrongdoing. "There were many doubts, many campaigns against me from inside and outside football," Ronaldo said. "They wanted to hit me from all sides and the truth is The best was The Best and that is me, so I am very happy. They wanted me to feel bad, but as I have said 'he who owes nothing, fears nothing in life'. As always, I have shut up a few mouths once again," Ronaldo said.
