CR7 blasts media campaign against him
Malaysians celebrate FIFA goal of the year award
AFP
AFP, MADRID: Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo claimed he had to overcome media campaigns against him to win FIFAs inaugural The Best prize for the worlds best player in 2016.
Ronaldo lifted the award at a star-studded 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, Ronaldos year was blighted by reports from an international consortium of media organisations in December that claimed a huge data leak involving 18 million documents showed the Portuguese hid 150 million euros ($160 million) from image rights in the British Virgin Islands. Ronaldo, 31, has strongly denied all claims of wrongdoing.
There were many doubts, many campaigns against me from inside and outside football, Ronaldo told Spanish radio station COPE.
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.
The Spanish tax authorities have committed to investigating the allegations against Ronaldo and a series of other Spanish-based sports stars named in the Football Leaks investigation.
However, the four-time World Player of the Year insists he is calm and believes justice will be done in his favour.
It bothers me because when you do things well, when you help a lot of people and I am going to mention the award for charity work, which is one of the best awards I have in my museum.
I have helped so many people and you do so many good things, but people want to hit you to camouflage the bad things that others do.
It bothered me and it continues to bother me, but justice is always done in the end and so we are going to wait and see what happens.
Another report from Kuala Lumpur adds: Malaysian football fans were elated Tuesday to wake up to the news that their countryman had won FIFAs goal of the year award for his extraordinary swerving free-kick.
Midfielder Mohamad Faiz Subris cracker for Penang state in the Malaysian Super League in February, reminiscent of the swerving thunderbolt by Brazils Roberto Carlos against France in 1997, received almost 60 percent of the global vote on the FIFA website.
Dressed in a tuxedo, the footballer thanked his coach, team and his family as he accepted the accolade at the star-studded FIFA awards ceremony in Zurich on Monday night, the first Asian to win the famous Puskas Award.
Honestly, it never crossed my mind that I would arrive at this level and be able to stand tall among world class footballers in this amazing place, he said.
There was a light-hearted moment when the player fumbled with his phone on stage as he searching for his speech.
Co-host Hollywood star Eva Longoria playfully quipped: Hes checking his text to laughter from the crowd.
On Instagram, Faiz posted a picture of himself together with Manchester United legend Alex Ferguson and tweeted another with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Malaysian fans took to Twitter to congratulate Faiz and said he had made the country proud. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak led the tributes.
Congratulations... your success in winning the award will bring inspiration to Malaysian footballers, he wrote on his Facebook page.
Footage of the 29-year-olds extraordinary goal from 35 metres went viral last year, making him a sensation in football-crazy Malaysia.
Ten FIFA Puskas Award 2016 finalists, chosen from thousands of goals scored around the world between September 2015 and September 2016, were revealed in November.
A month later, FIFA announced that Brazils Marlone and Venezuelas woman footballer Stephanie Roche were joining Faiz on the three-goal shortlist, with the Malaysians outrageous free-kick garnering more votes than the other two goals put together.
