Cristiano Ronaldo: Topping Goal.com 50 is 'a matter of pride'

                                     

Goal.com's top player for the 2011-12 season accepted his award in Los Angeles, where Real Madrid is currently stationed on a preseason tour.

“It’s a matter of pride for me to win this award," said the two-time Goal.com 50 winner. "I would not have been able to do it without the support of my teammates.”

In a year that saw the former Manchester United player win his first La Liga crown as a member of Los Merengues, Ronaldo capped off a spectacular individual season at the club level by scoring 60 goals across all competitions in 55 games, including 46 strikes in the domestic championship. Ronaldo scored 10 times in the same amount of matches during Real Madrid's Champions League run to the semifinals.

Adding to his monstrous scoring total, Ronaldo also assisted his teammates on 15 occasions, making him one of the team's top passers as well as the main offensive threat.

Since manager Jose Mourinho's arrival in 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo and Los Blancos have won the Copa del Rey and La Liga, with an eventual 11th Champions League title still looming, a trophy Real Madrid has not been able to win since the 2001-02 season.

2011-12 GOAL.COM 50 WINNER: CRISTIANO RONALDO

The Portuguese superstar has topped our definitive countdown of the finest players from 2011-12. Click here to view our slideshow from 50-1!

“My immediate goals are to work to the fullest with my team in order to fight for all the available championships. I don’t prioritize one because I want to conquer however many I can, but to do that we’ll have to fight our hardest and do it with humility," the striker added.

Following his sparkling club year, Ronaldo led Portugal to a semifinal finish at the Euro 2012 tournament held in Poland and Ukraine, sharing top scoring honors with five other players.

With Ronaldo leading the charge for Euro 2012, Portugal survived the competition's group of death by placing second in Group B with six points, below Germany and above Denmark and the Netherlands.

Ronaldo's second-half goal against the Czech Republic saw the Lusos through and into the semifinal clash against Spain, where they lost to the eventual champion in a penalty shootout.

Looking forward to the 2012-13 season, Real Madrid will wrap up its preseason tour of the United States and end August by clashing with old foe Barcelona for the Spanish Supercopa in what will be the first Clasico of the season.

Real Madrid will also be heavily favored to defend its La Liga title as well as fighting for the Copa del Rey and, of course, the Champions League.

"I’m sure that with such a great group like this, the obstacles in front of us will not seem so daunting,” Ronaldo said.