Cristiano Ronaldo is the European Player of the Year, and deservedly so. The award, which is presented by the French magazine, France Football, honours the achievements of an individual player made in the previous year.
Ronaldo certainly achieved a lot and was rightfully light-years ahead of his competition in terms of the results he achieved last season for Manchester United.
The Portuguese footballer scored 42 goals for the ‘Red Devil’s’ to finish top scorer in the English Premier League.
Not to mention he also helped United win the Premier League, despite the desperate efforts from heavyweight rivals Chelsea.
But the defining moment in his career so far, and the key result that swayed France Football voters, was the Champions League final in Moscow against Chelsea.
Ronaldo scored the first goal courtesy of a powerful header that put United in the lead. Chelsea, however, equalised and the match went to penalties.
It was here that Ronaldo’s seemingly perfect season was nearly lost.
Displaying cold feet, Ronaldo took the worst penalty possible to hand Chelsea a firm grip on the Champions League trophy.
At that moment in time, Ronaldo’s dream season suddenly turned into a nightmare he would rather forget.
The 42 goals meant nothing when Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech parried Ronaldo’s shot away.
Although football journalists across the globe had the final say, John Terry is the man responsible for giving Ronaldo his famed ‘Ballon De Or’ award.
Terry’s missed penalty cost Chelsea the Champions League trophy and ensured Ronaldo would be honoured for his efforts on the pitch.
If Terry would have scored that penalty, Chelsea would be the rulers of Europe and the likes of Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres would have fancied themselves for the Ballon De Or.
Messi in particular could count on his semi-final performance against United in the Champions League last season as the key component for possible glory.
His match up against Ronaldo was eagerly awaited for some time by many fans and experts for that matter.
Messi dominated for Barcelona in both legs and cast Ronaldo aside with relative ease. Only a superb strike from Paul Scholes gave United victory in the end.
And despite his best efforts, Messi was left with nothing while Ronaldo had two tournaments under his belt.
But if it wasn’t for the efforts of two key Englishmen, Ronaldo could have ended up empty handed himself.
Ignatius
Guest
Phutbol, Cristiano Ronaldo is not a midfielder. In the paper may appear like that, but in the field he is an attacking player, a extreme, a wing, put the name you want but not a midfielder.
Colin N
Guest
Surely though, if it comes down to silverware and achievement, rather than the best player over the season, which I believe was Messi-what's really the point of the award then. As an Englishman, I was delighted to see a Manchester United-Chelseas final, but I don't think Ronaldo was the best player in Europe over the season.
Alan Nicolea
Guest
Phutbol Yes, it all comes down to achievements and silverware. We'll see what happens next year.
Phutbol
Guest
Smart, skillful, technical, whatever. 42 goals from midfield is Ballon D'or material. Might've made it a bit closer if they hadnt won the champions league but Messi and Torres still wouldnt have any silverware, so Ronaldo would still be in front on that count too.
Alan Nicolea
Guest
Colin N I agree. Hopefully Messi's playing ability can transform into trophies for Barcelona and Argentina.
Colin N
Guest
In terms of playing ability, yes. The problem as you implied in your very good article is that Ronaldo actually won things last season, which I believed influenced the voters, or the decision makers. I thought that Messi carried that Barcelona team last season which was in turmoil, with both Ronaldinho and Eto'o wanting to leave. I don't think Ronaldo particularly did-he was a superb player in a very good team. Messi was an outstanding player in an average team (by Barcelona standards anyway). The one criticism of Ronaldo is that he doesn't perform in big games and that theory still lingers, whereas Messi never seems to have a bad game whenever I watch him in big games. As I said before, when a game is tight and nervous, like the Man Utd-Barcelona semi-final second leg last season, he has the nous and intelligence to create space, whereas I don't believe Ronaldo does. Although, Barcelona lost that game, they certainly deserved to go through. Led by and inspired Messi, which inspired the team mates around him, Barcelona dominated that game and had it not been for Scholes' super strike, I believe Barcelona would have gone through.
Alan Nicolea
Guest
Colin N In terms of playing ability, do you think Messi should have recieved the Ballon De Or?
Colin N
Guest
If you're going along those lines, you could say that an Ivory Coast international (Didier Drogbe) also helped him win the award. Had it not been for his sheer stupidity, it may have been him taking that penalty that John Terry missed, and who knows what could have happened there. Messi for me is more talented than Ronaldo in the sense that I feel he is a more intelligent footballer-he reads the game far better than Ronaldo.
Slippery Jim
Guest
Actually certain frenchman had a lot to do with it - Anelka should have kept Chelsea in it.
Alan Nicolea
Guest
Rowdy Who says i am blaming the poms? Ronaldo did deserve it in the end. All i am saying is that he got alot of help from the likes of Paul Scholes and John Terry. Their role in Ronaldo's award is quite significant. If it makes you feel any better, it also shows that Scholes in particular is a big match player unlike Ronaldo, who faltered in the semifinal against Barcelona ( he missed a penalty there too) while he nearly cost the red devils the champions league with his miss against chelsea. As for Terry, the occasion got the best of him. But he is still a class defender. Overall, congratulations to Ronaldo. He achieved alot last year and was rightfully recommended. That is what the Ballon De Or is all about.
Rowdy
Guest
Crikey, is there anything you won't blame us for ? Look, I'm not accepting any blame for the little winker winning the award.