Well-deserved accolades
Cristiano Ronaldo, star performer in Manchester United’s Champions League triumph, is World Soccer’s Player of the Year for 2008. The Portugal winger was the clear winner in our 27th annual poll, with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi second and Fernando Torres of Liverpool in third place.
Ronaldo is the first United player to win the individual prize, while last year’s winner, Kaka, did not even make the top ten. Instead, five of the top ten places are taken by members of Spain’s victorious team at Euro 2008 – Torres, captain Iker Casillas, David Villa, Xavi and Marcos Senna.
Spain triumphed in the Team of the Year category, ahead of Manchester United, UEFA Cup winners Zenit Saint Petersburg and Copa Libertadores winners LDU Quito of Ecuador. African champions Egypt, who successfully…
