Cristiano Ronaldo 101

Cristiano Ronaldo was named as FIFA World Player of the Year for 2008 on Monday and became the first Premier League player to get the award at a star-studded gala in Zurich.

The 23-year-old was in stunning form last term when he helped Manchester United to Premier League and European Cup success hitting 42 goals in the process, and after FIFA’s annual poll of international team coaches and captains he has added the world governing body’s prize to the prestigious Ballon d’Or which he has already received.

Ronaldo received the award from Pele, and said: ”It is an overwhelming moment and a very special moment in my life and I would like to say to my mother and sister that the fireworks can be set off now.

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Barcelona could have signed Cristiano Ronaldo for £12m last summer, but they turned down the offer as they were planning to get Thierry Henry instead.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo, Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes said that he offered the Portugal international to the Spanish champion before the World Cup, but was rejected.

Barcelona in the end failed to lure Henry, and Mendes insists they will not get another chance to land his in-form client. He said: “At this time it is impossible that he can go to Barcelona because Manchester would never let him leave, not for all the money in the world.”