Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal and Manchester United winger, becomes the first Premier League player to win the prestigious Fifa World Player 2008 award after beating AC Milan’s Kaka, Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Xavi to the title.
Ronaldo’s 42 goals for Manchester United last season helped the Old Trafford club to the Premier League and Champions League double. He also picked up the European Player of the Year honour in December and the FifPro World Footballer of the Year crown in October.
The coaches and captains of 155 national teams took part in the voting for the award with Messi finishing second ahead of Torres, Kaka and Xavi. Ronaldo is only the second Portuguese player to have won the title, following Luis Figo in 2001.