Ronaldo is World Best Player
Christiano Ronaldo is the World’s Best Footballer for 2008.
The world football governing body, FIFA named the 23-year-old Portuguese as the World’s Player of the Year, Monday January 12, 2009 at its annual awards night.
Coaches and captains of the FIFA’s 208 federation voted for Ronaldo.
The legendary Pele gave the award to him at a glamorous ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.
He beat Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres to the award.
AC Milan’s Kaka and Barcelona’s Xavi were also nominated for the award.
The Manchester United winger is the first English Premiership player to win the prestigious award. Ronaldo joined Manchester United in 2003, made 264 appearances and scored 102 goals.
The influential Man U winger recently escaped from injury in a motor accident.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi