Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo has scooped the 2008 Ballon d’Or ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres of Liverpool.
The Portuguese attacker grabbed 42 goals last season, helping United to the Premier League and Champions League titles. He is already FIFPro World Player of the Year while domestically he took the top prizes from the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) and the Football Writers. He is the first player based in England to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001.
“I was not worried, because I was aware of what I did in the course of the season,” said the ever-humble Ronaldo, “I am only 23 years old and it is splendid, incredible,” he added.
Ronaldo also won the November PFA 2UP' Fans' Player of the Month award for the Premier League (pictured winning last season's Player of the Year award), while Kevin Doyle (Reading), Fabian Delph (Leeds), and Jamie Ward (Chesterfield) picked up the prize in their respective divisions. Voting for December's awards is now open, click here.
