Cristiano Ronaldo and girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez shine on green (not red) carpet before Real Madrid star claims The Best FIFA Football Player accolade

• Cristiano Ronaldo and girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez were making their first official public appearance
• A number of other stars of the footballing world were seen at the awards ceremony in Zurich on Monday
• Dani Alves wore a silver and black jacket that showed off his usual interesting sense of style  
• Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo named men's player of the year at inaugural The Best FIFA Football Awards 

The stars were out in force in Zurich ahead of The Best FIFA Football Awards, where Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the world's best footballer. 

Most modern professional footballers are known for their sense of style, but paired in tandem with their wives and girlfriends they demonstrated their sartorial consideration on the green carpet.

A number of the biggest names in the game were out on Monday evening, including, of course, Real Madrid star Ronaldo.

Ronaldo brought a person of note with him - his new girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez. While Rodriguez and Ronaldo have been linked after being spotted together a number of times, it is the first occasion on which they have made a public appearance as a couple.

His manager Zinedine Zidane was also at the awards alongside wife Veronique.

Some players demonstrated their more unique sense of fashion. Dani Alves, always a rebel in these circumstances, matched skinny trousers with a silver and black shining jacket and boots.

Others brought their children along with them. Cristiano Ronaldo Jnr joined his dad and girlfriend Georgina on the green carpet, while Luka Modric and Marcelo also had their kids on the green carpet.

Conspicuous by his absence was Lionel Messi, who, along with the rest of the Barcelona team, chose not to attend on Monday night. 

And Ronaldo couldn't resist a sly dig at Barcelona and his old nemesis Messi after winning The Best FIFA Football Player award on Monday.

The 31-year-old star once again grabbed bragging rights over of his arch rival, having picked up the prestigious Ballon d'Or award last month ahead of the Barca forward. 

Messi — who did not attend FIFA's The Best ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland due to Barcelona commitments — and Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann were both pipped to the award by the Portugal captain. 

Ronaldo said: 'This achievement is incredible on a personal level. Unbelievable, I will never forget this year. I am very happy. Thank you everyone, I don't really have anything else to add. The awards I think speak for themselves. 

'I'm just very happy. I'm sorry some people from Barcelona aren't here, but that's understandable.'