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Ronaldo wins the Ballon d’Or

— Photo: AFP

I TOLD YOU SO! Manchester United’s Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo could be saying so after the prolific winger was chosen for the ‘Ballon d’Or’ award on Tuesday.

PARIS: Manchester United and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded the Ballon d’Or , the golden ball awarded to the European footballer of the year, on Tuesday after inspiring the English club to the Champions League and Premier League double last season.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi came second and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres third in a poll of 96 journalists from all over the world organised by France Football, the French magazine said on its website. Ronaldo earned 446 points with Messi on 281 points and Torres on 179.

“It’s one of the most beautiful days in my life. I’ve been dreaming of this trophy since I was a child,” Ronaldo, who will be officially presented with the trophy during a French TV show on Sunday, told France Football.

“I am only 23 and it’s magnificent. Unbelievable. It’s even better considering all the big names in contention this year,” said Ronaldo. “Lionel Messi is second and Fernando Torres is third, but also Xavi (Hernandez, in fifth place).”

Ronaldo is the third Portuguese player to win the award after Eusebio in 1965 and Luis Figo in 2000.

“I was not scared (of not winning the award) because I was aware of what I had done in the season,” Ronaldo added.

“Thank you to my teammates, who helped me the be the best, thank you to those who set me up for these goals.

“I will now work to be good on Saturday. This morning, arriving at the training session, I will be the same lad. What is sure is that I want to win again because it is so good.”

The 23-year-old Ronaldo follows former United greats Denis Law (1964), Bobby Charlton (1966) and George Best (1968) as a winner of the prize previously known as the European Footballer of the Year award. He scored 42 goals for the club last season.

Earlier this year, he also became only the second player to win England’s Footballer of the Year award in successive seasons.

European champion Spain had four players in the poll’s top 10, with Torres, Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez in third, fourth and fifth place respectively.

During a pre-season dominated by speculation about a move to Real Madrid, Ronaldo underwent ankle surgery but he has scored eight goals in 11 league games since returning in September.

Ronaldo, who was second to Brazil playmaker Kaka last year, is the first Portuguese to win the award since Figo in 2000 and the first Premier League player since Michael Owen in 2001.

With England having failed to make it to the European championship finals, the first Briton in the Ballon d’Or standings is Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, 10th on 28 points.

Ronaldo has been hailed by Charlton as the best player in United’s history, even better than his late former teammate Best. “It was paradise watching George play, just as it is now with Ronaldo,” Charlton told the Daily Mirror. “The difference is that Ronaldo is stronger and faster.” — Agencies

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