Cristiano Ronaldo Wins FIFA World Player Award

Cristiano Ronaldo Wins FIFA World Player Award

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal holds the FIFA World Player 2008 award during the FIFA World Player of the Year soccer awards ceremony in Zurich January 12, 2009. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann.

Cristiano Ronaldo Wins FIFA World Player Award

ZURICH (Reuters) - Manchester United and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo was named FIFA World Player of the Year at a ceremony on Monday. Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi was second, with Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Torres third. Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez, also of Barcelona, and AC Milan's Brazilian playmaker Kaka completed the top five.


Ronaldo won the honor for the first time after helping United win the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup. It also completed a hat-trick of individual honors for the 23-year-old, who had already won the football journalists' Ballon d'Or trophy and the FIFPro World Player of the Year title voted for by his fellow professionals.




"It's an overwhelming moment, very special," said Ronaldo after receiving the FIFA award from Pele."I can say to my mother and sister, 'let the fireworks off now'. It's one of the most important moments in my life."



ENGLISH FIRST



Ronaldo is the first player based at an English club to win the FIFA award, which had previously gone only to footballers playing for Spanish or Italian sides. "There may be no English players here but I believe it's important for England that myself and Fernando Torres are here representing two English clubs," said Ronaldo before the ceremony. "It is a victory for the English fans as well because the Premier League is strong, even though we must not forget the leagues in Spain and Italy remain strong as well." The FIFA award is voted by the national team coaches and captains of the 208-member associations of world soccer's governing body. Ronaldo was voted in first place by 136 of the coaches and captains while 76 put Messi top. The United player picked up 935 total points, ahead of 678 for Messi and 203 for Torres.



WORLD FOOTBALLERS OF THE YEAR WINNERS



2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) Manchester United
2007: Kaka (BRA) AC Milan
2006: Fabio Cannavaro (ITA) Real Madrid
2005: Ronaldinho (BRA) Barcelona
2004: Ronaldinho (BRA) Barcelona
2003: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Real Madrid
2002: Ronaldo (BRA) Real Madrid
2001: Luis Figo (POR) Real Madrid
2000: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Juventus
1999: Rivaldo (BRA) Barcelona
1998: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Juventus
1997: Ronaldo (BRA) Inter Milan)
1996: Ronaldo (BRA) Barcelona
1995: George Weah (LBR) AC Milan
1994: Romario (BRA) Barcelona
1993: Roberto Baggio (ITA) Juventus
1992: Marco van Basten (NED) AC Milan
1991: Lothar Matthaus (GER) Bayern Munich

Ronaldo to Play for Portugal Again in World Cup Soccer Qualifier

Ronaldo to Play for Portugal Again in World Cup Soccer Qualifier

Ronaldo to Play for Portugal Again in World Cup Soccer Qualifier

Portugal is getting back its best player while the Swedes are without many of their top names for Saturday's World Cup qualifier.

Cristiano Ronaldo is returning to international play for the first time since the European Championship, and that's bad news for the injury-depleted Swedish team, which is likely to be without nearly half of its regular lineup at Rasunda Stadium (2 p.m. ET), where the Scandinavians have only lost one game in 10 years.

Portugal beat Malta 4-0 in its opening qualifier but was then upset at home 3-2 by Denmark after conceding three late goals and is fourth in Group 1 with three points. Albania, Denmark and Sweden all have four points after two games.

"From here on in it's going to be difficult and we can't lose any more games like we did against Denmark," said Ronaldo, who underwent ankle surgery after Euro 2008 in June.

Portugal is without Chelsea playmaker Deco, who is still recovering from a torn thigh muscle. Midfielder Maniche, winger Simao Sabrosa and central defender Ricardo Carvalho are also sidelined with injuries.

Coach Carlos Queiroz said Portugal now have to win points on the road to make up for the Denmark defeat.

"I can assure you we'll be looking for three points in Sweden," he said. "I want us to play our usual game and make the Swedes defend and cause them headaches. . . . We can't allow three goals against us in games like these. We can't afford any more mistakes."

Ronaldo is likely to play as a striker, with Danny replacing Deco in midfield.

Strikers Henrik Larsson and Markus Rosenberg, defender Olof Mellberg, and midfielders Christian Wilhelmsson, Tobias Linderoth and Anders Svensson are out for Sweden because of injuries.

"I don't think I've ever had this kind of injury situation since I began (this job)," coach Lars Lagerback said.

Rosenberg was the latest addition to the injury list on Thursday. The Werder Bremen player injured his groin when shooting a volley during Wednesday's practice.

"Right now I can't shoot the ball," he said Thursday. "But we will test again tomorrow."


Rookie Patrik Ingelsten, who is the leading scorer with 15 goals for league leader Kalmar in the Swedish first division, could replace Rosenberg up front alongside star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.


Ingelsten has never played for Sweden, which is trying to qualify for a fifth straight major championship.


The 37-year-old Larsson, who came out of international retirement for Euro 2008, injured his right thigh Tuesday and is out for several weeks.


Wilhelmsson, who ruptured a muscle in his right thigh in September, is still unfit, while Mellberg injured his groin when playing for Juventus against Palermo on Sunday.


Svensson ruptured a thigh muscle before the first two qualifiers last month. Linderoth, a member of Sweden's squads at the 2002 and '06 World Cups and the last two European Championships, sustained a foot injury in practice before Sweden beat Hungary 2-1 at Rasunda.

Source :: CanadianPress.Google.com




Cristiano Ronaldo Pictures

Cristiano Ronaldo Pictures

Cristiano Ronaldo launches book

Cristiano Ronaldo Glasses

Twenty two year old Cristiano Ronaldo considered one of the most flamboyant players in the world has just launched his new book Moments in London.


The dark glasses he sported at the launch of the book though was probably more out of necessity rather than a style statement.


A deep gash, courtesy an elbow to the face in the Champions League match versus AS Roma on Wednesday is what the dark glasses were meant to hide at the launch of Ronaldo's book launch.


The Manchester United striker is part of the new breed of footballers who don't shy away from promoting themselves whether it is a TV channel dedicated to them or writing tell all books.


"It's ok, it's just four or five days and then I will be still beautiful again," said Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United and Portugal.


Beautiful is probably the last word that came to English football fan's minds when they thought of Ronaldo just last year.


He was branded enemy number one for his controversial role in England's world cup exit. And Ronaldo's book release is being seen by many as a blatant attempt to promote brand Ronaldo in a still hostile England.


Apart from Manchester United supporters Ronaldo is still booed in stadiums across the country, but Ronaldo has stuck it out ignoring a very lucrative offer of close to 80 million Euros from Real Madrid.


"I think it is the right club for me because I think I learned a lot and I'm thinking the same now. I think it's the right club for me, not just the club, the people, the players, supporters, I think this will be fantastic for me," Ronaldo added.


Those words will no doubt be music for Sir Alex Fergusson's ears, considering that Ronaldo was an intrinsic part of United clinching the Premiere League title for the ninth time.

Cristiano Ronaldo launches book