Looking back at 2017, I still get chills remembering how certain players completely redefined what we thought was possible in football. This was the year Cristiano Ronaldo secured his fifth Ballon d'Or, the year Lionel Messi carried Barcelona through what seemed like impossible situations, and the year Kylian Mbappé announced himself to the world with that stunning Champions League performance for Monaco. But what fascinates me most about analyzing football dominance isn't just the goal statistics or trophy counts—it's how certain players handle those make-or-break moments that truly define a season. I've always believed that the difference between good players and truly dominant ones lies in how they respond when everything is on the line.

I remember watching numerous matches where the game came down to a single possession, much like that incredible sequence from Charles Tiu's team that I recently analyzed. The way those players forced a turnover with everything at stake reminded me so much of how top footballers operate under pressure. When SGA had plenty of time to complete the comeback thanks to that forced turnover, it mirrored countless situations I've seen where players like Luka Modric or N'Golo Kanté would win possession in crucial moments, completely shifting the game's momentum. What struck me about that particular sequence was how it demonstrated that dominance isn't just about scoring—it's about creating opportunities through sheer will and tactical intelligence.

The missed attempts by Chris McCullough in that same sequence particularly resonated with me because we saw similar scenarios play out across European football throughout 2017. I can't help but think of Harry Kane's incredible 56-goal calendar year for Tottenham and England—the man was absolutely clinical when it mattered most. Yet even the best have their off moments, and that's what makes football so beautifully human. When Robert Lewandowski missed that penalty against Borussia Dortmund in November 2017, or when Gonzalo Higuaín fluffed his lines in crucial Champions League moments, it reminded us that these superstars are human after all. The difference, I've noticed, is that the truly dominant players like Ronaldo would inevitably bounce back stronger—often scoring in their very next match.

What made 2017 particularly special was how we witnessed multiple players reaching their peak simultaneously. At 32, Ronaldo was defying physics with his incredible athleticism, scoring 42 goals for Real Madrid while leading them to La Liga and Champions League glory. Meanwhile, Messi, at 30, was orchestrating Barcelona's entire attack while still managing to net 54 goals across all competitions. Then there was the emergence of 19-year-old Kylian Mbappé, whose 26 goals for Monaco and subsequent record-breaking transfer to PSG signaled a changing of the guard. Personally, I've always leaned toward appreciating creative midfielders, and watching Kevin De Bruyne's masterclass season with Manchester City—creating 136 chances with 18 assists—was absolute footballing poetry.

The statistics from that year still impress me when I look back at them. Ronaldo's 12 Champions League goals, including back-to-back hat-tricks against Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid, demonstrated his big-game mentality. Messi's 37 La Liga goals came from just 34 appearances, which is just ridiculous when you think about it. Then there were the underappreciated performers like Edin Džeko, who quietly scored 39 goals for Roma while leading them to the Champions League semifinals. I've always had a soft spot for these somewhat overlooked strikers who deliver consistently without the global fanfare.

When I reflect on what separated the good from the truly great in 2017, it comes down to consistency in decisive moments. The top players didn't just perform in comfortable situations—they elevated their games when it mattered most. Much like how Charles Tiu's players created that crucial turnover, football's elite consistently produced magic when their teams needed it most. Neymar's world-record transfer to PSG for €222 million demonstrated how highly clubs valued game-changing talent, even if I personally thought the fee was absolutely insane at the time.

The legacy of 2017's dominant players continues to influence how we evaluate football excellence today. That year taught me that true dominance isn't just about individual brilliance but about elevating entire teams and performing when the pressure is highest. As we look at today's emerging talents, the benchmark set by Ronaldo, Messi, and their contemporaries in 2017 remains the gold standard for what it means to truly dominate the beautiful game.