Euro 2012: Cristiano Ronaldo's Play Warrants Ballon D'Or

For the past three seasons, the only obstacle set before Cristiano Ronaldo and the coveted Ballon d'Or has been a diminutive little maestro from Argentina.

The pair are under constant scrutiny from professionals, critics and terrace fans alike. La Liga almost turned into a one-on-one battle between the two players this season, with Real Madrid's win nearly taking a backseat to the each frontman's individual accomplishments. 

However, with all that has happened this past season, there is a strong argument that football's most prestigious individual award will not be gracing Lionel Messi's mantelplace this year.

Consider that Real Madrid won their first La Liga title in three years thanks in part to a magnificent 46-goal haul by Ronaldo. That feat also made him the first player in Spanish football history to score 40-plus goals in two consecutive seasons, as well as the first footballer to score against every team in the division in one season. 

However, as impressive as these accomplishments are to the average football fan, Ronaldo has long been remanded for his 'disappearances' in the most crucial games.

In 2011-12, he went some way towards remedying that with 10 goals in as many games in the Champions League, including goals against Ajax, Lyon and Bayern Munich. He also had goals in the Madrid derby against intracity rivals Atletico Madrid, and, perhaps most crucially, two goals against Barcelona, his second effectively killing off the Blaugrana's title chances.

Still, the doubters remain, and it is hard to imagine Ronaldo is capable of doing anything more to silence them.

His chance at glory then, would presumably come in the shape of UEFA's Euro 2012 competition, where, thankfully, he would be free of the shackles of constant comparison to Lionel Messi.

The question was, would he show his worth with not just Europe, but the world watching his every move?

It seemed as if he wouldn't, with a lacklustre performance against Germany in the opening game, and a not-too-brilliant showing against a poor Denmark side who Portugal genuinely struggled to beat.

Amongst outcries from the Portuguese media that Ronaldo doesn't perform at the same level for his national side as he does for Madrid, along came the crucial game against the Netherlands in the final group stage.

Both teams still had chances of qualifying; both were desperate for a victory. And though the Dutch had been poor by their own very high standards, they were no poor outfit. 

One-nil up from a superb Van de Vaart strike, there were hints Ronaldo might be outshined in a major game once again. That is until he dashed an entire nation's hopes with two well-taken goals, and was unlucky to add a third from range.

What the critics had been waiting for had arrived—in style. 

With the game against the Czech Republic now behind Portugal too, in which Ronaldo guided his side to victory yet again, the talk isn't of Spain's indomitable passing machine, nor Germany's indefatigable young starlets, but the one-man demolition squad dragging Portugal along with him. 

Now, this may sound harsh on the Portuguese set-up, but they were hardly pre-tournament favourites, despite the lucrative big names smattered about the squad.

Leaving aside Ronaldo, the Portuguese have a tight, efficient midfield trio in Veloso, Meireles and Moutinho, but a suspect-looking defence held together by an aging Bruno Alves, and a rather deflated frontline led by the haplessly unlucky Helder Postiga.  

Against the Czechs, Ronaldo was unlucky not to have bagged a brace, perhaps a hat-trick. His exquisite bring down, turn and shot that struck the post shortly before halftime was the kind of move that he makes look as easy as anything, but the average footballer might never achieve in his entire career.

He's come a long way from his days at Manchester United, where, for a couple of seasons, he was justifiably the world's best player; darting in from either wing, stepovers galore, to smash a 30-yard drive into the bottom corner.

He now occupies a more all-round forward role, leaving out the Hollywood tricks to concentrate on the less glamorous aspects of his game.

Take his goal against the Czechs; his run was timed to perfection, coming in on the blind side of the right-back to get in front of his man and propel the ball past Petr Cech with his head.

In all the group games his off-the-ball movement has been superb.

Coming in from out wide, his pacey, diagonal runs have been picked up time and time again by Meireles and Veloso. His pace is phenomenal, and his upper body strength is admirable, shrugging off challenges at full tilt and taking on shots first-time. 

Where Messi offers a consistent metronomic performance, constantly moving into space, dragging players out of position, and then, when in possession of the ball, heading straight for the heart of the opposition back line, Ronaldo affects the game in different ways. 

For periods of the game he can be seen strolling across the turf in nonchalant fashion, seemingly offering little outlet to his teammates.

Then, in a heartbeat, he's up on his toes, scorching across the pitch as a ball is laid into his path, rampaging down upon the opposition with all the fury of a rolling rogue wave.

Where Messi perfects an art of constant precision, languidness and grace, Ronaldo is all about pace, power and sheer audaciousness.

If there were ever a time for Ronaldo to rightfully claim the Ballon d'Or as his, surely it is now.

Imagine if he continues to affect Euro 2012 the way he has, and perhaps even guides Portugal beyond the semifinals. With those feats coupled with his incredible success with Real Madrid, who can doubt his contribution and accomplishments in the game have been greater than Lionel Messi's as of this year?

For me, few, very few indeed.