Hegemony came to an end. The 2 kings in the football feud have reigned for a decade and unforgettable exploits translated into records, titles and incredible plays. It all started in 2008; Cristiano Ronaldo with Manchester United after an exceptional season for those times; (42 goals, 31 of them in the league), champion of the Champions League and of the English Premier League, received the Golden Ball of the magazine France Football and the FIFA World Player award (the highest award granted by FIFA at that time), exceeding by more than 100 votes his most prominent contender Lionel Messi.

Then came the time of the 10. In 2009 he equalled the Portuguese and then won 3 FIFA Golden Ball Awards (the prizes were joined in 2010) consecutively in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. Endorsed by spectacular plays and a dream team that won 3 Spanish leagues, 2 cups of the king, 2 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE'S and 2 world clubs.

And Cristiano returned in 2013 with Real Madrid, the greatest team in history, to build a legend and won his second and third Golden Ball to say I'm here, do not forget about me.

Few believed in him when Messi in 2015 won his 5th Golden Ball and many thought the battle was over. In 2016 the prizes were separated (The Best and Golden Ball) and again Cristiano got up. He won a Euro Cup, won 2 consecutive champions' leagues and scored many goals that earned him the prize for best player of FIFA (The Best FIFA) and the Golden Ball award in 2 consecutive years (2016 and 2017).

The 2017 2018 season started with two reasonable doubts: Who will reach 6 first? Who will be the next player to win The Best Award? Many have prowled the throne. The main favourites to dethrone them were Neymar, Griezman, Hazard, Mbappe and Salah. But the magic 10 of Los Blancos consecrated today as the best.

Dear Luka:

Nobody was counting on you even though you were in all the victories, always present, always constant, always smiling. Without much marketing, without many goals. You did not want to gain anything for yourself, and that's why you sacrificed yourself for the good of others. He rewarded a team player because that's football. And you got it for your own merit in a season where Cristiano also won his 3rd consecutive league championship as the lead scorer, where Messi's Barcelona won the King's cup and almost undefeated Spanish league. You won because you are the best.

Original article in Spanish by La Congeladora Deportes.