Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or

[NL7]

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2008 Ballon d'Or award ahead of Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres.

Ronaldo was the clear favourite to land the prestigious prize after a remarkable year at Old Trafford.

The powerful attacker netted 42 goals last season as the Red Devils claimed Premier League and UEFA Champions League glory.

His summer was overshadowed by Real Madrid's courting of the 23-year-old, while he missed the start of the new term with an ankle injury.

But Ronaldo has demonstrated his impressive ability in recent weeks, netting nine times since September.

Ronaldo finished runner-up to Brazilian forward Kaka in 2007 and overcame strong competition this time around from Barcelona playmaker Messi - who finished second - and third placed Liverpool star Torres.

He is already FIFPro World Player of the Year and also took the top prizes from the Professional Footballers' Association and the Football Writers last term.

The Portugal winger is the first United player to win the Ballon d'Or since George Best in 1968 and the first from his country since Luis Figo in 2000.

Final positions (British based players in bold):
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Manchester United), 446 points

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), 281 pts

3. Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool), 179 pts

4. Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), 133 pts

5. Xavi (Spain, Barcelona), 97 pts

6. Andrei Arshavin (Russia, Zenit St Petersburg), 64 pts

7. David Villa (Spain, Valencia), 55 pts

8. Kaka (Brazil, AC Milan), 31 pts

9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Inter Milan), 30 pts

10 Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool), 28 pts

11. Marcos Senna (Spain, Villarreal), 16 pts.

12. Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo, Arsenal), 12 pts.

13. Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), 11 pts.

14. Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Atletico Madrid), 10 pts.

15. Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea), 8 pts.

16. Franck Ribery (France, Bayern Munich), 7 pts.

17. Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Barcelona), 6 pts.

18. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus), 5 pts.

19. Michael Ballack (Germany, Chelsea), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal), 4 pts.

21. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United), 3 pts.

24. Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands, Manchester United), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands, Real Madrid), 2 pts.

No votes : Karim Benzema (Lyon), Pepe (Real Madrid), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), and Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow).

Sky Sports | Football | News | Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or

Fully deserved, although we already knew, its official: We have the Best Player In World Football! :Clap:

 

[manj501]

Not a suprise really, just confirming what everyone already knows.

 

[mas123]

Fully deserves it, 42 goals for a winger is amazing...

 

[speczy]

I couldn't be more impressed with his goal haul, hopefully he'll get 25+ this season.

 

[nara]

Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or

Is this some sort of high-diving competition?

 

[Napster]

Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or whats this then a diving award for swimming well done ronaldo

 

[NL7]

Is this some sort of high-diving competition?

naaa, but if it was then gerrard would have won it by a way bigger margin than ronaldo winning the ballon :Clap:

 

[squidbeak]

not a man utd fan but have to admit has been the best player over the last 12 months.
One thing that pecks my head is his constant moaning every time someone tackles him.
Messi personally will be the better player in the next few years

 

[gasman]

Sour grapes you lot with the diving comments, he was just bloody awesome end of

 

[charlie senator]

Top Brit was .......Gerrard...... Mmmmm

 

[gasman]

Top Brit was .......Gerrard...... Mmmmm

So it was a diving competition :Clap:

 

[charlie senator]

Yeah looks like it and guess what ??? Ronaldo won it !!!

 

[gasman]

And top Brit was ....................

 

[charlie senator]

Oh he was way down in tenth place .Nine other divers in front of him and Rooney only three behind lol

 

[imranrasool]

lol to some of the comments.

And like we all didnt know he was going to win this, anyone who says there was a better player in the last 12 months needs their head checking. He has already scored over a 100 goals for Manchester United.

Anyone who thinks he whinges when he gets tackled, you try getting hacked down repeatedly and see how you feel. In regards to anyone else who may or may not be playing better at the moment.

Form is just temporary, Class as in Ronaldos case is permanent.