Heading into the New Year, former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has scoffed at those who never thought his former assistant Zinedine Zidane could make the step up to the top job.
The Frenchman has done so well that, over the course of 2016, he set a record of least amount of defeats in a calendar year.
"He has proclaimed himself world champion after winning the Champions League and some believed he was not going to to be a coach," Ancelotti said to Gazzetta Dello Sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo comes into 2017 as the reigning Ballon d'Or and the Italian understands why the Portuguese was a cut above everyone else in the last 12 months.
"He is a phenomenon, an incredible professional who lives for football and is giving a lot," he continued.
"When he is playing at his maximum level, he can do what he wants and stopping him is very difficult."
Ancelotti did sound a note of caution regarding Real's progress in the Champions League however.
"Madrid will have to sweat against Napoli to qualify," he concluded.