Best FIFA Football Awards 2017: Cristiano Ronaldo beats Lionel Messi, Neymar to win player of the year

Cristiano Ronaldo won the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award for the second year while Lieke Martens was crowned women's player of the year.

Ronaldo left Lionel Messi and Neymar behind to remain the only player in the world to have won the award. He had also triumphed in its inaugural outing in January.

Martens picked up the Fifa award after winning the European Championship with the Netherlands. 

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud won the Fifa Puskas Award for goal of the year.

Zinedine Zidane won the men's coach award while Sarina Sarina Wiegman was elected best women's coach.  ianluigi Buffon won the best goalkeeper prize.

Here is what happened on the night:  

'01:30

That's all for tonight.

Here's what Ronaldo said in his speech:   

"Thank you for voting for me. A mention for Leo and Neymar for being here. Thanks to Real Madrid teammates, coach and president they support me throughout the year. We are in England for the first time, I am really glad, it is a great moment for me. FIFA gives opportunity to the fans. I have fans around the world I appreciate that. It is great to be here around these great players, and this (Maradona) great player. Have a good night."

'01:25

Cristiano Ronaldo- The Best FIFA men's player

Congratulations, #CristianoRonaldo!
Winner of #TheBest FIFA Men's Player 2017 pic.twitter.com/agzK4mBaci — #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

'01:23

Time for the big one- The Best FIFA male footballer of the year. Maradona and Ronaldo (the original) to present the award. 

'01:19

Lieke Martens is the best female player of the year.

Congratulations, #LiekeMartens!
Winner of #TheBest FIFA Women's Player 2017 pic.twitter.com/aKaTXHuQnz — #FIFAWWC (@FIFAWWC) October 23, 2017

'01:10

A musical break- Kasabian perform for the footballers and the fans.​

'00:59

Time for FIFA's best XI of the year:

Gianluigi Buffon, Dani Alves, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Leonardo Bonucci, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo

Your FIFA FIFPro #World11 for 2017 #TheBest pic.twitter.com/h8gNrTpMiX — #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

'00:55

Francis Kone wins FIFA fair play award for saving life of a fellow footballer.

'00:50

Sarina Wiegman is chosen the best women's team coach.​

'00:43

The winners are

Congratulations, Celtic!
Winners of the FIFA Fan Award 2017 #TheBest pic.twitter.com/ptGJtKU3PQ — #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

'00:38

It's time to honour the fans.

'00:34

Gianluigi Buffon is best goalkeeper. In his speech, he express his wish to win the Champions League and World Cup before he retires.

'00:30

Next up is best goalkeeper award, Peter Schmeichel​ to present.  

'00:25

Zinedine Zidane is the best manager of the year.

Congratulations, Zinedine Zidane!
Winner of #TheBest FIFA Men's Coach 2017 pic.twitter.com/fHTc3R1Q76 — #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

'00:20

The winner is Olivier Giroud

Congratulations, @_OlivierGiroud_!
The Frenchman’s scorpion kick wins the FIFA #Puskás Award 2017 #TheBest pic.twitter.com/xA69neDfoO — #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

'00:16

There seems to be a lot of support for Giroud's goal- the goalkeeper's goal also gets a lot of mention.  

'00:11

First up it is the Puskas Award for best goal.​

'00:09

Elba is keeping things 'professional'- he is taking selfies with Neymar, Messi, Cristiano and Giroud. 

'00:07

Idris Elba is on the stage. He jokes, 'If you win please don't drop the award on your foot, you will be benched.'

'00:05

LIVE: #TheBest FIFA Football Awards are live!

Watch it here:https://t.co/1pKwEGl4qX pic.twitter.com/jFmoR0mECz — #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

'21:55

"It is an honour to be on the podium tonight with my former teammate Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo," says Neymar on the Green Carpet.​

'23:48

Only a few minutes left to start. Meanwhile, check out who all are here.  

LIVE
The stars are continuing to arrive in London ahead of #TheBest!
Follow every moment https://t.co/UyGB3MGsD2 pic.twitter.com/iowV23L2fU — #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

- Simply the best!

Ready! #TheBestFIFA pic.twitter.com/M7cQTbMc3a — Andrés Iniesta (@andresiniesta8) October 23, 2017

- Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived.

#CristianoRonaldo is in London #TheBest pic.twitter.com/WBPC10ct2Q — #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

- Dani Alves seems to be enjoying the Twitter Mirror.

@DaniAlvesD2 clearly enjoyed using our @Twitter mirror ahead of #TheBest awards in London! pic.twitter.com/7u3ohtVpRg — #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

- He is here- It's time for Messi

#LionelMessi is here!#TheBest pic.twitter.com/9wZJDugCAW — #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

- Neymar is enjoying his time here- But is he going to be the best?

#Neymar is here #TheBest pic.twitter.com/okds8rzdoZ — #TheBest (@FIFAcom) October 23, 2017

- Here is how the awards ceremony will go 

11:50 PM IST: Show warm-up

12:00 AM IST: Start of the Show 

12:13 AM IST: THE FIFA PUSKAS AWARD

12:16 AM IST: THE BEST FIFA MEN’S COACH

12:20 AM IST: THE BEST FIFA GOALKEEPER

12:27 AM IST: THE FIFA FAN AWARD

12:34 AM IST: THE BEST FIFA WOMEN’S COACH

12:38 AM IST: THE FIFA FAIR PLAY AWARD

12:41 AM IST: THE FIFA FIFPRO WORLD11

12:58 AM IST: THE BEST FIFA WOMEN’S PLAYER

01:02 AM IST: THE BEST FIFA MEN’S PLAYER

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Ronaldo won the prestigious award last year and is the favourite to retain the award. He is nominated alongside his eternal rival Lionel Messi and Messi's former Barcelona team-mate Neymar, now of Paris Saint-Germain.

Ronaldo won the inaugural Best FIFA Men's Player Award last year after a six-year merger between the FIFA honour and the Ballon d'Or.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is expected to be named Best FIFA Men's Coach after becoming the first man to mastermind a successful defence of the European Cup in the Champions League era.

The former France playmaker is up against Chelsea's Antonio Conte and Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Gianluigi Buffon is shortlisted for the Best FIFA Goalkeeper prize alongside Ronaldo's Madrid team-mate Keylor Navas and Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer.
The shortlist for the Best FIFA Women's Player award comprises Venezuela's Deyna Castellanos, American star Carli Lloyd and Dutchwoman Lieke Martens.

The winner of the Puskas Award for the best goal of 2017 will also be announced. The favourites are Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud's 'scorpion kick' volley against Crystal Palace and South African goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke's remarkable overhead bicycle kick for Baroka against Orlando Pirates.