Much is expected this season for Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, who are fresh from snatching the La Liga title from rivals Barcelona’s grasp last season. With the calibre of player available to the Portuguese coach, the financial clout behind the club and the intense supporter backing of the Santiago Bernabeu faithful, Los Blancos are expected to whitewash all that crosses their path. The difference whether they can do it or not? One Cristiano Ronaldo.

Things have not gone according to plan so far for the Spanish champions in 2012-13, as erratic form has blighted early season ambition. Poor results in the Primera Division see the capital-city side trailing Barcelona by eight points already. The main reason that can be accounted for this is CR7’s ill-content at the club, with the player admitted that he does not feel happy or valued in Madrid.

The talented forward has a phenomenal record for the Spanish side, and was the key to ending Barcelona’s reign of power last season. After three years of unequivocal success for the Catalan giants, something special was needed to knock the Camp Nou side off their pedestal. That something was a Cristiano Ronaldo inspired victory for Madrid in Catalunya, with the ex-Manchester United forward scoring the decisive goal.

This season, despite not being in the best mentality due to the afore-mentioned personal problems, Ronaldo salvaged a lacklustre Madrid side against Manchester City in the Champions League, scoring an individual last-minute winner to save the side’s blushes. Despite the ability of Karim Benzema, Mesut Ozil, Angel Di Maria and countless other superstars in the squad, Ronaldo is the man that makes the side tick.

After filling a similar talismanic role for Portugal at Euro 2012, Ronaldo is well and truly in the running for the next Ballon d’Or. FootballTop is an alternative to FIFA and UEFA rankings that indicates international public rating of clubs, championships, players, national teams; it currently has CR7 is the most popular and most respected player in the modern game.

All legendary teams have their star players that make the side successful. The Brazil side of the 1970’s had Pele, Argentina’s World Cup winning side had Diego Maradona; the difference between success or monumental failure for this Real Madrid side is Cristiano Ronaldo, and the club must do all it can to keep the superstar happy and firing.

Let’s prove that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best footballer nowadays by voting for him on the FootbalTop.com.