Football's biggest names, including Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, turned out in Milan for a night of glitz and glamour at the Fifa Best Awards on Monday night.
But there was one very obvious absentee - Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Juventus star was shortlisted for the Player of the Year award, along with Messi and Virgil van Dijk, but ended up coming second to the Barcelona striker.
Ronaldo was named in the Fifa Fifpro Men's Team of the Year. However, there was an awkward moment when the list was read out and the ten other players were all present on stage. Ronaldo's name was then missed off.
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Argentinian player Lionel Messi and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp shake hands. EPA -
Lionel Messi poses with his family during the Best FIFA Football Awards. EPA -
(From left) USA's midfielder Rose Lavelle, US and Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan, US and Reign FC midfielder Megan Rapinoe and Brazil and Orlando Pride forward, Marta attend the presentation of the FIFA FIFPRO Women's World Eleven Team during The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony, on September 23, 2019 in Milan. AFP -
Ronaldo attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Barcelona's Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong and his girlfriend Mikky Kiemeney arrive. AFP -
Real Madrid's Marcelo attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Ajax's Donny van de Beek attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Marc-André ter Stegen attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019 at the Teatro Alla Scala. Getty Images -
Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric with his wife Vanja Bosnic and their children Ivano and Ema arrive for The Best FIFA Football Awards. AFP -
Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi arrives for The Best FIFA Football Awards. AFP -
Real Madrid and Spain defender Sergio Ramos arrives with his partner Pilar Rubio. AFP -
(From left) Belgium and Real Madrid forward, Eden Hazard, Brazilian and Real Madrid defender Marcelo, Spain and Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos and Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric. AFP -
US and Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan arrives for The Best FIFA Football Awards. AFP -
Kylian Mbappé attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Portuguese coah Jose Mourinho presents the trophy for the Best FIFA Women's Coach of 2019 Award. AFP -
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino attends The Best FIFA Football Awards. Getty Images -
Liverpool's Alisson Becker of Brazil receives the Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper award. EPA -
Carles Puyol attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Cristian Vieri and Costanza Caracciolo attend The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Hugo Sánchez attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Julio Cesar, Roberto Carlos and Gilberto Silva attend The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Samuel Eto'o attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Marcel Desailly attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Argentinian Lionel Messi receives the The Best FIFA Men's Player award from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. EPA -
Megan Rapinoe receives The Best FIFA Women's Player of the Year award by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Getty Images -
Ivan Zamorano and Javier Zanett The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019 at the Teatro Alla Scala. Getty Images -
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks on stage during The Best FIFA Football Awards. Getty Images -
Demetrio Albertini attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019 at the Teatro Alla Scala. Getty Images -
Santiago Solari attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Fabio Capello attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Peter Schmeichel attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Youssou N'Dour (R) attends The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019. Getty Images -
Best FIFA Women's Coach of 2019, USA head coach Jill Ellis (left) and Best FIFA Men's Coach of 2019 Liverpool coach, Germany's Jurgen Klopp pose at the end of The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony. AFP -
FIFPro Women's World 11 Players of the Year pose during The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019 at the Teatro alla Scala. Getty Images -
Dutch player Frenkie de Jong (centre), Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (right) and Brazilian and Real Madrid defender Marcelo. AFP -
FIFA FIFPro Men's World 11 Players of the Year (L-R) Alisson, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo Vieira, Lionel Messi, Frenkie de Jong, Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe, Luka Modric, Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt. Getty Images -
Artists perform during the Best FIFA Football Awards. EPA -
Women top eleven team during the Best FIFA Football Awards. EPA -
Lionel Messi poses after winning the Best FIFA Men's player award with the winner of the Best FIFA Men's coach award Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, winner of the Best FIFA Women's player award USA women's Megan Rapinoe and the winner of the Best FIFA Women's coach award USA women's coach Jill Ellis. Reuters
So where was he?
The answer appears to have been revealed on his Instagram account where he posted a picture for his 184 million followers showing him sat at home on the sofa reading a book.
The caption to the image read: "Patience and persistence are two characteristics that differentiate the professional from the amateur. Everything that is big today has started small. You can't do everything, but do everything you can to make your dreams come true. And keep in mind that after night always comes dawn."
Ronaldo won the best player award in 2016 and 2017 and did receive a vote from Messi this year, though the Argentine's first choice was Liverpool's Sadio Mane, with Barcelona teammate Frenkie de Jong receiving his third-placed vote.
Ronaldo meanwhile ignored Messi and placed Juventus teammate Matthijs de Ligt in first, De Jong in second and Mbappe in third.
It is understandable that the Portuguese may have wanted to put his feet up ahead of Juventus's match at Brescia this evening. He has been suffering from muscle fatigue, according to manager Maurizio Sarri, having played three games in seven days.
However, teammate De Ligt made the journey, and Milan is actually on-route to Brescia. Messi is also in action on Tuesday, as Barcelona host Villarreal.
Ronaldo has scored two goals in five games for Juventus this season, and has also netted five times in two European Championship qualifiers for Portugal.
