Premier League - Ronaldo crowned best in the world

Eurosport - Tue, 28 Oct 09:03:00 2008

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been named FIFPro World Footballer of the Year.

2008 Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo - 0

It is the first in what is expected to be a host of individual honours for the 23-year-old, who scored 42 goals for United on their way to Champions League and Premier League title glory last term.

Ronaldo had suggested last week he could do no more than he did to be crowned the best player on the planet and peers from over 40 countries are in agreement.

At £12.2 million, Ronaldo has proved to be a bargain since his arrival from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, growing steadily into the most influential player in the United team.

It is anticipated Ronaldo will also scoop the Balon D'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, with the Portugal international - who has also been named in FifPro's world team of the year - keen to remain at Old Trafford for another couple of seasons at least.

"I insist that I am a Manchester United player and now I think that next year I will continue here," Ronaldo told Marca.

Although Sir Alex Ferguson has twice been forced to intervene to keep Ronaldo at the club - immediately after the 2006 World Cup and last summer as Real Madrid made their bid to get him - the player seems committed to helping United win further honours, even if his lack of goal celebrations recently has been the subject of major debate.

Ronaldo admitted Ferguson played a huge part in his decision to commit his immediate future to the Red Devils following this summer's transfer speculation.

"He has been a key person. I respect him a lot, because it was him who signed me and he has played a very important part in all that I have won," said Ronaldo.

"In Lisbon I reached an agreement with him and it was decided that the best thing for all was to continue.

"He listened to my arguments and I listened to his. Now I understand that it was the correct decision. I am with Manchester United body and soul."

- - -

Ronaldo is one of five Premier League players in a FIFPro team of the year that is almost entirely dominated by players based in England and Spain. Milan playmaker Kaka is the only exception.

England centre-backs John Terry and Rio Ferdinand both get the nod, with three of Spain's Euro 2008 winners - goalkeeper Iker Casillas and defenders Sergio Ramos and Carles Puyol - filling out the rest of the back five.

Kaka and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi are considered to be Ronaldo's main rivals for the Ballon d'Or and World Footballer of the Year awards, and both feature in the FifPro side.

Despite patchy form for England, Steven Gerrard's superb Liverpool performances earn him a place in the midfield, and he is joined by club-mate Fernando Torres, who completes a four-man Spanish contingent.

FIFPro team:

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)

Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

John Terry (Chelsea)

Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)

Carles Puyol (Barcelona)

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

Kaka (Milan)

Xavi (Barcelona)

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United).

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 202 - 221 of 221

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  1. The best is Ronald

    From Blesing, on Wed 29 Oct 7:44AM

  2. Steve G,u ar d world best playa.Cr7 is jst a kid 2 u­ based on football xperience.He always wants 2 score by­ all means.But i stil luv him.All d same,C R7 is a very­ nice playa.

    From anioko e, on Wed 29 Oct 2:40AM

  3. Steve G,u ar d world best playa.Cr7 is jst a kid 2 u­ based on football xperience.He always wants 2 score by­ all means.But i stil luv him.All d same,C R7 is a very­ nice playa.

    From anioko e, on Wed 29 Oct 2:39AM

  4. I love cr7 so much.He's a very nice playa.But cant­ u see dat he's goin down.Steve G is always ready 2­ save liver.I tink he deserves it.

    From anioko e, on Wed 29 Oct 2:32AM

  5. Adams milan (baban nabil) dont die ronaldo will be the­ next world best player. Saidi gaude

    From usman, on Tue 28 Oct 4:33PM

  6. david when you learn what a great player is ill think­ about entertaining your ideas about football. its­ jealousy that you dont like him. you wish he was playin­ for your team. he had plenty of shots and goals because­ no one could get near him enough to stop him. thats a­ great player. gerrard, torres, lampard and terry are­ all great players but ronaldo was better. simple as. as­ for shooting myself, dont be so childish. get a life­ and cop on.

    From alfa147x, on Tue 28 Oct 4:08PM

  7. alfa147 y dont u join ronaldo and shoot ureself cuz­ idiots like u have no idea wot ure talking about­ ronaldo only did so well last year cuz he is a solo­ playa who shoots at goal all the time instead of passin­ 2 team mates so wind ure neck in and be bloody quiet

    From davidthompson_76, on Tue 28 Oct 3:29PM

  8. davidthompson_76, - read comment 204 and apply it to­ yourself.

    From alfa147x, on Tue 28 Oct 3:14PM

  9. ronaldo is a complete @#$% and shud be shot he isnt­ even that good he is extremely overated and yeah he may­ have scored 42 goals last year but does that mean hes­ the best cuz i dont think so gerrard is much beta and­ he is a team playa which is more than can be said of­ ronaldo

    From davidthompson_76, on Tue 28 Oct 3:05PM

  10. i think ronaldo is one of the best but not the best i­ think torres must be the best but thats only my­ oppinion

    From boylelifeld, on Tue 28 Oct 2:10PM

  11. 0.2022132133200.213132313135

    From muki-man utd, on Tue 28 Oct 1:30PM

  12. CR7 DESERVED THE AWARD, WHY CANT YOU GUYS JUST GIVE­ HONOUR TO THOSE THAT DESREVE IT.HE DESERVE TO BE EURO­ PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND THE WORLD FOOTBALLER OF THE­ YEAR.LET THOSE THAT WANT TO DIE SHOULD GO TO HELL.CR7­ RIDE ON, YOU DESERVE THE BEST, THE SKY IS YOUR LIMIT.

    From adejumo p, on Tue 28 Oct 1:26PM

  13. the bloke is an arrogant @#$%!

    From EVE, on Tue 28 Oct 12:40PM

  14. Ronaldo deserves to be the best in the world. So all­ 'bad belle' people should just shut their­ traps.
    Whoever wants to be great should try and beat­ his record of 42 goals in all competitions a­ season
    CR7, ride on, the sky is your limit. More awards­ to your kitty, Ronnie boy

    From jidegold41, on Tue 28 Oct 12:02PM

  15. keivin your a muppet

    From JOHN B, on Tue 28 Oct 11:44AM

  16. ronaldo is a cheat and an arrogant.he loves all the­ undeserved attention he gets, both on and of the the­ field. i mean who breaks up with their girlfriend via­ text message.

    From ronniboy85, on Tue 28 Oct 11:07AM

  17. IF i was Ronaldo, i would dive too.. Majority of the­ players tries to tackle my legs
    They want to injure me­ because they can't touch the ball
    Don't have so­ much hate on CR7 , he is that good...
    if you ask me, i­ would probaly try to physically abuse Ronaldo if i had­ to defend him
    so shut up and think why he dives­ sometimes

    From DevilsChild, on Tue 28 Oct 10:39AM

  18. this is last award for ronaldo...trust me..

    From Muhammad Luqman Hakim, on Tue 28 Oct 10:33AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    fine...ronaldo is alright but can he keep­ up??????.................cos he is going down too­ fast...thumbs up though!

    From chijioke i, on Tue 28 Oct 10:20AM

  20. mmanoharm- learn the game of football before you start­ typin stupit idiotic stuff like tores or gerrard gettin­ it. cop on.

    From alfa147x, on Tue 28 Oct 10:18AM
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