Champions League - Ronaldo wins FIFA award

Eurosport - Tue, 13 Jan 09:06:00 2009

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo has been named FIFA World Player of the Year at a ceremony held by world football's governing body.

FOOTBALL 2009 Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo receives the award for FIFA World Player of the Year - 0

Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi was second and Liverpool's Spanish striker Fernando Torres third.

Also on the shortlist for the prestigious award was Milan playmaker Kaka - winner of last year's award - and Messi's Barcelona team-mate Xavi, who was voted Euro 2008 Player of the Tournament by a UEFA panel

Portugal winger Ronaldo, 23, won the honour for the first time after helping United win the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup.

The accolade also completed a hat-trick of top individual honours for Ronaldo, who had already won the football journalists' Ballon d'Or trophy and the FIFPro World Player of the Year title voted for by his fellow professionals.

"It's an overwhelming moment, very special," said Ronaldo after receiving the award from Pele.

"I can say to my mother and sister, 'let the fireworks off now'. It's one of the most important moments in my life."

Ronaldo is the first player based at an English club to win the FIFA award, which had previously gone only to footballers playing for Spanish or Italian sides.

"There may be no English players here but I believe it's important for England that myself and Fernando Torres are here representing two English clubs," said Ronaldo before the ceremony.

"It is a victory for the English fans as well because the Premier League is strong, even though we must not forget the leagues in Spain and Italy remain strong as well."

The FIFA award is voted by the national team coaches and captains of the 208-member associations of world soccer's governing body.

Ronaldo was voted in first place by 136 of the coaches and captains while 76 put Messi top.

The United player picked up 935 total points, ahead of 678 for Messi and 203 for Torres.

Brazilian striker Marta won the Women's award for the third consecutive year, equaling the record of Germany's Birgit Prinz, who finished second this time round with less than a third of the points (328) that Marta accrued (1,002). England's Kelly Smith was fifth behind Cristiane and Nadine Angerer of Brazil and Germany respectively.

Cristiano Ronaldo factfile

* Born on February 5 1985 in Funchal, Madeira Ronaldo's late father Jose Dinis Aveiro gave him the second given name Ronaldo in honour of former US president Ronald Reagan.

* He began attracting attention at the age of 10 and both Madeira's top teams Maritimo and Nacional scouted him. He played his youth football at Nacional before joining Sporting Lisbon, arch-rivals to his boyhood favourites Benfica.

* The turning point in his career came in July 2003 when he impressed Manchester United's players and manager Alex Ferguson with an outstanding performance against them when United came to play in the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon. He joined Manchester United shortly afterwards aged just 18 for £12.5 million.

* Since then Ronaldo has scored 102 goals for Manchester United in 264 matches for the club.

* The winger enjoyed a highly successful 2007-08 season, scoring 42 goals in all competitions as United won a Premier League and Champions League double.

* His exploits led to him becoming only the second player to win England's Footballer of the Year in successive seasons and just the third Portuguese player to win the Ballon d'Or award after Eusebio in 1965 and Luis Figo in 2000.

Reuters

Comment 190 - 209 of 229

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  1. MESSI SHOULD HAVE WON - ITS RIGGED.

    From LARRY, on Tue 13 Jan 1:35PM

  2. I want to rejoice wit CR for his laudable feat. To all Man. u Fans,i say well done. We shall win all the winnables dis season. Organsummer

    From segun o, on Tue 13 Jan 1:07PM

  3. send my message

    From Samuel, on Tue 13 Jan 1:00PM

  4. Congratulations to all Man U fans, also to C. Ronaldo and lastly to the English premier league. The Devils have achieved a lot for the PL. C. Ronaldo, u really deserve it, u worked hard for it last season and u got it, bravo. To all Man U haters and CR haters, why dont u just admit the truth, u or any of ur players can never achieve such a fit, not on this earth. Once again, CR u have made us proud. Man U 4 life.

    From Samuel, on Tue 13 Jan 12:45PM

  5. CR7 is simple the best, he had taken MU on his shoulders, when he was injured in the beggining of 2008/2009 what happend to MU? lost to Zenit, lost games in england, now he is back and MU is again clinbing up. CR7 gave everything to MU, gives everything in every match, he is a fighter, he isn't from the strong south america lobby in FIFA, he is a simple Portuguese, he had to fight very hard for this honor. Congratulations CR7 you are the best!

    From escuna, on Tue 13 Jan 12:38PM

  6. What ever next maybe the Queen will give this t w a t t a knighthood like the scotish tratt called Alex

    From Phil, on Tue 13 Jan 12:27PM

  7. ashley young is better!!...

    From sean d, on Tue 13 Jan 12:26PM

  8. not exactly a good line up of star football players for the prize takers lol no wonder Ronaldo got the prize but title of the prize for world cheat of the year would be more like it !!!

    From Phil, on Tue 13 Jan 12:14PM

  9. Ronaldo scores very few goals from open play. Most come from dubious free kicks close to the penalty area after he has performed his diving starfish act, or from even more dubious penalties.The best nickname for him is Calemero!
    JMK. Montrose

    From joanmkane, on Tue 13 Jan 11:46AM

  10. Congratulations CRISTIANO RONALDO(portugal)-you are the best of world player .Pity for gerrard, should be 2nd and ibraimovick 3rd.I would like see that messi play in premiership, see what boy can do...premiership is the best, and FORÇA CR7, and manchester.Congratulatios CRISTIANO RONALDO u won all!!!!

    From manuel f, on Tue 13 Jan 10:58AM

  11. Congratulations CRISTIANO RONALDO(portugal) you are the best of world player
    , and should be:1-c.ronaldo;2-gerrard;3-ibraimovick...

    From manuel f, on Tue 13 Jan 10:52AM

  12. When shall an English player win that World Player of the Year. Is it a curse? Upon all the noise they make about the game, none of them had ever won and never will win the award. Shame, shame, shame, shaaaaaaame! Next winner will be a Nigerian. Cheers! Naija.

    From Luxy, on Tue 13 Jan 10:46AM

  13. maybe all the @#$% talk bot ronalo can stop... FIFA World Player of the Year!! how can u Criticise the lad now... we'll just let the football and the awards do the talkin!! **up yours all u ronaldo haters!!**

    From tracey4dwyer, on Tue 13 Jan 10:31AM

  14. mpt.spavins, this seasons form doesn't count towards the award as the votes are based on player achievements for last season. On those grounds Ronaldo was the clear winner, Messi was poor by his own high standards last season where as Ronaldo scored 42 goals (winning the European Golden boot) as well as a Premier league winners medal and a Champions league winners medal (scoring in the Final too!). If you feel Messi had a better season last season then you must be on another planet! After all, which cups/titles did Messi help Barca win last year??

    From niksalt, on Tue 13 Jan 10:06AM

  15. Well done for Ronaldo, however i believe that messi should of just knicked it,
    Im a United fan and Yeah Ronaldo was phenominal for us last season, he WAS the best player on the planet, he set such a high marker for this season people are expecting miracles from him, but his consistancy this season was no-where near last, and yet Messi has continues his form this season that he had last... Dont get me wrong im totally for Ronaldo winning it, i just think that he doesnt deserve it for his preformances so far this season

    From mpt.spavins, on Tue 13 Jan 9:52AM

  16. Now an even bigger ego

    From ian H, on Tue 13 Jan 9:35AM

  17. Ronaldo,u are great.No other player was better than u last season,even my most admired players KAKA and Fernando Toares.Keep it up boy,CHAO!

    LEKI,A
    Port Harcourt

    From lekiresources, on Tue 13 Jan 8:47AM

  18. TED comment 191: you may be a hater of Man U and Cristiano but for the first time in this forum, you have spoken the truth. I wonder what accounts for the Latino's selection. It is a clear indication that they are better legends when it comes to the game than other races, the english do well at gambling, Rooney could easily have won a bet. Cristiano, Lionell, Fernando, Xavi, Marta, Critane - check out. The Latinos are just the legends. But truly, we anticipate the begining of the end of a ONE SEASON Cristiano wether he plays for Milan or Man City or even Derby....

    From saddiQ, on Tue 13 Jan 8:44AM

  19. I think ronaldo shoudnt of won it this year.when he stops diving is when he should win it.as for messi he deserves his position up there.Then talking about Torres hes been helping liverpool so much he deserves being 3rd.I think it should of been Messi 1st Kaka 2nd and Torres 3rd

    From Marc C, on Tue 13 Jan 8:44AM

  20. FIFA SAYS AND THE AWARD HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE BEST Y CANT WE REJOICE WITH THE POOR BOY AND ALLOW HIM TO ENJOY HIS MONEY. UNITED ARE WORLD BEST HE IS A GOLDEN BOY. RONALDO PLS KEEP IT UP PEOPLE A JEALOUS OF U JUST THAT U ARE THE BEST, FOR ME U REMAIN THE BEST AND UNITED REMAIN THE BEST CLUB. BRAVO RONALDO, BRAVO MANCHESTER UNITED (A.K.A RED DEVIL).

    From united.life, on Tue 13 Jan 8:44AM
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