As he reflected on one of the defining nights of a remarkable career, Cristiano Ronaldo veered away from the popular narrative with the same ease with which he had left Sweden's defenders floundering on Tuesday.

'Am I the best in the world?' he asked in Stockholm. 'I am not obsessed with it. I try to do my work.'

While the football community squabbles over who should pick up the Ballon d'Or, it transpires that Ronaldo may not even attend the ceremony. If he doesn't, it would be perversely appropriate.

Peerless: Cristiano Ronaldo tore apart Sweden in Tuesday night's play-off after he scored a hat-trick

Flying high: Man United's Nani celebrates with the former Old Trafford favourite Ronaldo after his stellar display

Portugal's dashing prince does not need a golden bauble to certify his majesty. He is the best footballer in the world right now. He knows it and the world knows it. What Ronaldo gave us in 29 stunning minutes at the Friends Arena on Tuesday will never be forgotten by those present. Three goals despatched with chilling certainty.

Afterwards, Sweden coach Erik Hamren seemed dazed. 'In the second half he took us to pieces,' he said. 'It was a shame because in the first half our plan to control him was working.' Hamren - a likeable man - was only half right.

Ronaldo had not scored in the first half but he had been the driving force behind growing Portuguese authority. This is what he does, he dictates matches from their very soul.

 
Leading by example: Ronaldo is the best footballer in the world and can do little wrong for club or country

Shake on it: Ronaldo came out on top in his personal battle with PSG superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The statistics for Ronaldo's year are spellbinding. More goals than Liverpool, more than Tottenham, eight hat-tricks. Numbers in sport can be misleading. These ones aren't.

In Portugal he is feted, adored. Last week, one Portuguese journalist reflected on Ronaldo's failure to take a penalty as his country lost a semi-final shoot-out against Spain in Euro 2012 and said: 'He wasn't forgiven because he didn't need to be. He can do no wrong in our eyes. In Portugal he will never be criticised.'

Interestingly, the scales have also tipped that way for the 28-year-old in Spain, his adopted home. Ronaldo never shied away from hard work during his years at Manchester United. A bout of abdominal pain, for example, was attributed to a daily routine of 700 press-ups.

On target: Ronaldo celebrates after he opened the scoring for Portugal in Tuesday's tie against Sweden

'What we are seeing with Cristiano is the result of utter dedication to becoming the very best,' tweeted former United fitness coach Mick Clegg on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo also had to be indulged at Old Trafford. Outside the United fortress, he was admired but not loved, while inside he was subjected to the odd bout of mockery. The story of how he once recommended a face cream to a female MUTV presenter still causes chuckles in the dressing room, and one player removed his wash bag from an overhead airplane locker while quipping to journalists: 'Cristiano's wouldn't fit up here.'

In short, vanity - selfishness even - was a recurring theme of Ronaldo's time in England and perhaps during his early time in Spain. That has gone now.

 
From Lisbon to Manchester: Sir Alex Ferguson bought Ronaldo after a blistering pre-season display in 2003

The modern Ronaldo is recognised as a footballer in the purest terms. As he has grown as a player and a person, so he has come to understand the essence of his sport. He is more mature off the field, too, raising his son Cristiano Ronaldo Jnr, although the identity of the mother remains a mystery.

At United, Ronaldo was shepherded through his formative years but at Real he has become a leader, the captain of Carlo Ancelotti's team in spirit if not in name.

'He can't be captain because of the tradition of giving the armband to the longest-serving player,' said a well-placed Spanish source. 'But ignore that. Ronaldo heads this team.'

An example of Ronaldo's security is found in his treatment of Gareth Bale. Some players may have seen Bale's arrival at Real as a threat, an invasion of personal space. Bale's associates, though, tell of how Ronaldo has stepped forward as the Welshman's fiercest ally, helping him to overcome language problems and adapt to cultural change. This is the hallmark of a footballer finally comfortable in his own skin.

 
All white on the night: Ronaldo stepped forward as Bale's closest ally following his arrival from Tottenham

Jose Mourinho's tenure could have broken Ronaldo, especially with an offer from his formative club in England in the back of his mind. In many ways, though, it proved to be the making of him.

His refusal to side with Mourinho in his countryman's ugly war with Spaniards Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos earned him acceptance. In a recent game against Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu, the crowd sang as one, imploring that their star forward be given the Ballon d'Or.

Two seasons ago, that would not have happened. Even some Barcelona supporters tolerate Ronaldo now, his refusal to get involved with Mourinho's baiting of their club having been recognised in Catalonia.

So, as he approaches his 29th birthday in February, Ronaldo casts a spell over the sport that he could never have dreamed of when he first came to the world's attention in a simple pre-season game in August 2003.

Silverware: Lionel Messi received a record third Golden Boot on Wednesday in Barcelona for most league goals in Europe last season (46). This term, Ronaldo's out on his own

France master: Franck Ribery is among the favourites to land the Ballon d'Or this year

I was there that balmy night at the Stadio Jose Alvalade when an 18-year-old Ronaldo terrorised United for Sporting Lisbon. 'He gave John O'Shea a migraine,' said Sir Alex Ferguson in his recent book.

All I remember of that night is seeing a kid in white boots with a famous name running at defenders as if on a mission to complete a world record of step-overs. Ferguson was already on to him, of course. Within a week he was at Old Trafford and the seeds of legend had been sown.

In Stockholm this week it was tempting to reflect on those 10 years. Ronaldo has gone from a baby-faced lone ranger to an accomplished killer with steel in his eyes. He is the best player in the world and it is tempting to suggest the circle of his career is complete.

RONALDO'S INCREDIBLE NUMBERS

66 Ronaldo has scored an incredible 66 goals for club and country in 2013. That includes 56 goals in 46 games for Real Madrid and 10 in nine for Portugal.

8 The 28-year-old is the top scorer in the Champions League this season with eight goals, one ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and two ahead of Lionel Messi.

1.20 Goals per game ratio for Ronaldo in 2013. And it gets better if you only look at this season. He has 31 goals in 21 appearances in 2013-14. That's 1.48 goals per game.

16 The Portuguese is also the top scorer in La Liga this season with 16 goals in 13 matches. He already has twice as many as Messi.

47 Ronaldo equalled Pauleta's national record of 47 goals for Portugal. The forward is closing in on Bobby Charlton and Thierry Henry's records, but has a way to go before he catches Gerd Muller (68) and Pele (77).

5 Ronaldo has outscored the Premier League’s five biggest clubs in 2013. Liverpool (61), Man City (56), Arsenal (55), Man United (54) and Chelsea (54) have all scored fewer league goals this year than Ronaldo has scored in
all competitions.

225 Since joining Real Madrid, Ronaldo has scored 225 goals in 216 games for the club. In just five years he has already become Madrid's fifth highest scorer and is closing in on Ferenc Puskas (242, right) in fourth.