Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon D’Or

Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2008 Ballon D’Or award, according to an announcement made by French magazine France Football at 0200 GMT. Ronaldo picked up a massive 446 votes out of a possible 480, and was the only player on the lists of all the 96 journalists. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi came second with 267 votes, while Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was third with 165 votes. Ronaldo is the fourth Manchester United player to win the award, after Dennis Law, Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best. He is only the third Portuguese player to bag the coveted award after Eusebio in 1965 and Luis Figo in 2000.

Ronaldo was instrumental in Manchester United winning the double in the 2007-08 season

Ronaldo scored an amazing 42 goals for United last season, and is the first Premier League player to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001.

Ronaldo had finished second to Brazilian playmaker Kaka last year. He was the first choice of 77 journalists this year ( Kaka had 78 last year).

Ballon D’Or- Past winners ( till 1998)

2007 winner- Kaka
2006 winner- Fabio Cannavaro
2005 winner- Ronaldinho
2004 winner- Andriy Shevchenko
2003 winner- Pavel Nedved
2002 winner-Ronaldo
2001 winner- Michael Owen
2000 winner- Luis Figo
1999 winner- Rivaldo
1998 winner- Zinedine Zidane

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