After scoring his 40th hat-trick for Real Madrid to rescue his side from the jaws of defeat in the final of the Club World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo stated that the expectations never cease when it comes to his individual exploits.
Ronaldo's 60th minute penalty helped level the score at 2-2, before a brace in the first period of extra-time secured his hat-trick and a 4-2 victory against a valiant Kashima Antlers side.
In doing so, the striker became only the second player to score a hat-trick in the final of the Club World Cup or Intercontinental Cup - Pele is the other - as well as the first to win the Club World Cup, Champions League, European Championship and Ballon d'Or in the same year.
"There is always more expected of Cristiano," the 32-year-old told La 1 after the game.
The Portuguese star admitted that his side were taken aback by the quality of their opposition.
"It was a game with a lot of suffering. We didn't expect them to play so well but finals are like this, you have to suffer," he said.
"We wanted this trophy a lot, and we have ended the year in the best possible way. We are very happy," he added.
The former Manchester United winger's man-of-the-match exploits put an exclamation mark on a memorable individual week in which he also picked up his fourth Ballon d'Or award, but Ronaldo was quick to offer gratitude to his colleagues.
"It has been a very happy week, after winning the Ballon d'Or. It's a perfect end to the year," he noted.
"I must thank all my teammates, as without them I would not have won the personal trophies I have won."