Ronaldo wins Golden Ball award
2/12/2008 15:47
Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo was named the European Footballer of the
Year today, becoming the fourth Manchester United player to win the Ballon
d'Or.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi came second and Liverpool striker
Fernando Torres third in a poll of 96 journalists from all over the world
organized by France Football, the French magazine said on its website
(www.francefootball.fr).
Ronaldo dominated the voting, garnering 446 points.
Messi had 281 points and Torres had 179.
The 23-year-old Ronaldo joins 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.
Ronaldo was second last year with 277, while Kaka, last year's winner,
was eighth this time with only 31 points.
Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all
competitions last season as United won the Premier League and Champions League
trophies.
The 23-year-old Ronaldo adds the Ballon d'Or award to the FIFPro
World Player of the Year trophy he won in October, and the Professional
Footballers Association and the Football Writers awards.
Xinhua
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