Cristiano Ronaldo: FIFA World Player of the Year 2008

Daysha

Just been announced at the ceremony.

Insect Overlord

He deserved it. Well done C. Ronaldo.

Headshot

deise59 wrote: »

Just been announced at the ceremony.

well done Ronaldo

bUILDERtHEbOB

I have a question, is Messi's form from the past few months irrelevant when deciding this years winner?

Well done to Cristiano, though.

Unearthly

bUILDERtHEbOB wrote: »

I have a question, is Messi's form from the past few months irrelevant when deciding this years winner?

Well done to Cristiano, though.

Votes are made in November I believe

Well deserved from Ronaldo, was easily the best player of 2008

_blank_

bUILDERtHEbOB wrote: »

I have a question, is Messi's form from the past few months irrelevant when deciding this years winner?

Yes.

Ronaldo was the stand out player this year.

No doubt at all.

None.

Denis Irwin

Well deserved he was absolutely outstanding last year.

bUILDERtHEbOB

By this year I meant 2009, btw...

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bUILDERtHEbOB wrote: »

By this year I meant 2009, btw...

I know.

He won his domestic title, scored a goal in the final to help his team to win the European Cup and also won the FIFA World Club Cup.

He is, without doubt, the standout player in 2009

bUILDERtHEbOB

Des wrote: »

I know.

He won his domestic title, scored a goal in the final to help his team to win the European Cup and also won the FIFA World Club Cup.

He is, without doubt, the standout player in 2008

Oh right fair enough sound.

RichTea

Viva Ronaldo! Phenomenal season from him last time out, very much deserved the nod for this.

Can't help but feel that it seems almost a foregone conclusion that Lionel Messi will win it next year.

Hobart

Fair play to him, fully deserved.

Quint

He's not having a bad season this year, but it just seems woeful compared to his form last year. Thats what happens when you set such high standards for yourself

Idu

The Sky commentators made a (rare) good point yesterday saying that the little things that were coming off for him last year just seem a little off this time around.

Would have been phenomenal to keep that form going for a third season and the injury didnt help obviously. Great achievement though and thoroughly deserved

mike65

Meh

bigstar

mike65 wrote: »

Meh

+1

BOHSBOHS

...the award was presented to ronaldo by ...eamonn dunphy

Bounty Hunter

well he was easily the best player on the planet that i saw last season although next year I think he will be on that platform again as a runner up watching Lionel Messi pick up the award.

Chong

Happy for him and United.

Viva Ronaldo !

FearDark

Ronaldo fully deserves it, he was outstanding last year no doubt. Wish he was humble about it, the fact that he has always thought he was the best player annoys me though.

Adamcp898

Big shock!......but anyway yeah he deserved it

SantryRed

Well done to him. Fully deserved.

Waiting for someone to lay the bait in this thread though tbh.

Headshot

another paper weight

Quint

READ THE RULES

Guy:Incognito

I dont see why this isnt done in the summer and on a season basis. Ronaldo was the best player last season, but since the summer hasnt been near that form, that time included a lay off with injury, so in essence he was the best playe rof the first half of 2008.

Would make much more sense to be a WPOTY 2008 and given in at the end of last season.

Unearthly

Stekelly wrote: »

I dont see why this isnt done in the summer and on a season basis. Ronaldo was the best player last season, but since the summer hasnt been near that form, that time included a lay off with injury, so in essence he was the best playe rof the first half of 2008.

Would make much more sense to be a WPOTY 2008 and given in at the end of last season.

Well obviously Messi has been the man so far this season, but when you take in account that January to May is when the big prizes are won, Ronaldo can be seen as still the best player of 2008 overall

Guy:Incognito

Unearthly wrote: »

Well obviously Messi has been the man so far this season, but when you take in account that January to May is when the big prizes are won, Ronaldo can be seen as still the best player of 2008 overall

That just highlights the issue. Play well (and win stuff) for 5 months and thats what wins it. Ronaldo has had an 18 month or more run of form, but the reality is, he could have turned up for 5 months and won it anyway. I cant see a reason for it not to be done per season.


If it's purely 2008 then as you said, Ronaldo was best for the first half a and messi the 2nd. What happens if Barce won the league and lost the CL last season to Utd? Woudl ROnaldo really be more deserving based on a 1 penalty difference?

gosplan

RichTea wrote: »

Viva Ronaldo! Phenomenal season from him last time out, very much deserved the nod for this.

Can't help but feel that it seems almost a foregone conclusion that Lionel Messi will win it next year.

Yeah, can be no doubt about this. Was Ronaldo's year.

Not so sure that he'll get even second this year but Messi's already pretty much won it.

Heard that he's scored as many this season as last season already. Scored another cracking winner as well as an amazing assist on the weekend.

Bar injury, it's his.

He was the best player first half of 2008 and Messi the best second half 2008. Toss of a coin could only settle it imo.

jesus_thats_gre

No real surprise there.

Not quite sure how Kaka got runners up?? He hardly had a great season last year

Headshot

rarnes1 wrote: »

Not quite sure how Kaka got runners up?? He hardly had a great season last year

messi got runner up i taught

Daysha

FIFA can say what they like about the award being 2008, everyone knows its for the season 2007/2008.

The reason they can't put it at the end of last season is because there are many leagues that run over the summer (all the major leagues in South America, for example) so the season isn't quite over for them yet.

It's not just this year it's happened either. Kaka picked up the award last year even though he was only half the player he used to be from August-December 07 compared to January - May 07.

Charlie

Not really sure where to chuck this, but I have to put it up somewhere, just to see the reaction of our very own Xavi.

Highsider

Lucky

eZe^

His 2007/2008 season form means he had to win this award. Fair play, next year'll be a different story though.

_blank_

wtf

ssn are showing who the captains of all the british isles national teams voted for, and are saying that Given is the Irish captain.

Terry voted for Xavi, Torres and Ronaldo, in that order.

Given seemingly voted for Cassilas, Ronaldo and Messi.

bizarre.

Xavi6

Charlie wrote: »

Not really sure where to chuck this, but I have to put it up somewhere, just to see the reaction of our very own Xavi.

:rolleyes:

He's the best central midfielder in the world. Fully deserves to be in the top 5 players of 2008.

Legend.

Hank Scorpio

"Chelsea skipper John Terry put Ronaldo third behind Xavi and Torres.":rolleyes:

redout

Lads I was listening the radio here in Madrid tonight and they were having a phone-in on the world player of the year and the footballing loving public here in Madrid were having none of this Ronaldo hype. One poor sod was in favour of Ronny but was shot down by the presenter and another caller in who just went on about Higuain ? whatever the fuvk that was about! They were going on about Messi, Messi and Messi. Madrileanian's were not to into Ronaldo even with all the hype of him joining Madrid. Also on about the fact that 4 Barca pllayers were voted in the top 10 I think they said and the top 10 dominated by Spanish players. Just spreading the word. Before any begrudgery starts Ronny deserved it.

Ronaldo absolutely deserved it, you can't really argue that, but Messi has almost certainly got it in the bag for next year even now!!

eagle eye

Firstly I don't think Ronaldo deserves it, or should I put it differently and say I don't think he was the most deserving of the award.

These type of awards really annoy me sometimes especially after I looked at who was in the picture with Ronaldo.

It can easily be argued that Messi could have got it but how was Kaka there and even moreso TORRES?????

Things are bad if he is in the running for World player of the year after a good season, he did not make a consistent outstanding contribution in the PL, FFS Roque Santa Cruz was better than him in the Premier League but of course he is not with one of the G14 so he has no chance of being even considered.

On Ronaldo I am probably the only one that thinks he does not deserve it. And its not because I don't like the guy either, but I don't anyways:).

He had a fantastic season, outstanding actually and United might not have won the PL last year without him but they certainly would not have won it without Wayne Rooney.

He was the superstar in that United team for me, ahead of Ronaldo who was also a superstar. I think its disgraceful that he is not in that picture and to see Kaka and Torres there ahead of him really sickens me.

redout

eagle eye wrote: »

Firstly I don't think Ronaldo deserves it, or should I put it differently and say I don't think he was the most deserving of the award.

These type of awards really annoy me sometimes especially after I looked at who was in the picture with Ronaldo.

It can easily be argued that Messi could have got it but how was Kaka there and even moreso TORRES?????

Things are bad if he is in the running for World player of the year after a good season, he did not make a consistent outstanding contribution in the PL, FFS Roque Santa Cruz was better than him in the Premier League but of course he is not with one of the G14 so he has no chance of being even considered.

On Ronaldo I am probably the only one that thinks he does not deserve it. And its not because I don't like the guy either, but I don't anyways:).

He had a fantastic season, outstanding actually and United might not have won the PL last year without him but they certainly would not have won it without Wayne Rooney.

He was the superstar in that United team for me, ahead of Ronaldo who was also a superstar. I think its disgraceful that he is not in that picture and to see Kaka and Torres there ahead of him really sickens me.

I stopped reading after that.

SlickRic

eagle eye wrote: »

Firstly I don't think Ronaldo deserves it, or should I put it differently and say I don't think he was the most deserving of the award.

These type of awards really annoy me sometimes especially after I looked at who was in the picture with Ronaldo.

It can easily be argued that Messi could have got it but how was Kaka there and even moreso TORRES?????

Things are bad if he is in the running for World player of the year after a good season, he did not make a consistent outstanding contribution in the PL, FFS Roque Santa Cruz was better than him in the Premier League but of course he is not with one of the G14 so he has no chance of being even considered.

On Ronaldo I am probably the only one that thinks he does not deserve it. And its not because I don't like the guy either, but I don't anyways:).

He had a fantastic season, outstanding actually and United might not have won the PL last year without him but they certainly would not have won it without Wayne Rooney.

He was the superstar in that United team for me, ahead of Ronaldo who was also a superstar. I think its disgraceful that he is not in that picture and to see Kaka and Torres there ahead of him really sickens me.

where to start with all this....

torres didnt consistently contribute to our PL season? i suppose he didn't help spain win the Euros either? he deserved to be there, no question at all imo.

how anyone can claim rooney deserved it over ronaldo is beyond me. how anyone can claim anyone deserved it over ronaldo is beyond me.

absolutely, 100% fully deserved. no matter what people may think of him

eagle eye

Here is my take on it.

Last year in the Premier League for me there were a number of outstanding performers. If you want to add a few international games into the mix, which to me is a real LOL then you could make a case for both Roque Santa Cruz and Torres being in the picture as well. There were others as well who played really well such as Lescott, Steven Gerard, Ashley Young, John Carew and I could go on if I was bothered, but in my opinion the most outstanding players in the PL last year were the four below and in that order. Of course defenders and goalkeepers never get a look in which makes the whole thing slightly stupid anyways. I'd have Vidic and Evra, Reina and Carragher, Terry and Cashley and Cliche up there as well.

Wayne Rooney: For me the best player in the world last year. He was everywhere on the pitch for United. You could see him making a tackle at Uniteds Corner flag and seconds later up supplying an assist for one of Ronaldo's many goals. 12 PL goals and 13 assists don't do any justice to the amount of work he put in all over the pitch for United.

Cristiano Ronaldo: A magnificent haul of 31 PL goals and 7 assists. An outstanding season, it will be hard for him to match it again lest he remains fit for an entire season. At times he has a weakness in his game which is his link up play but last season it didn't really matter as he was so potent.

Emanuel Adebayor: With Thierry Henry leaving Arsenal, everyone expected that Robin Van Persie would become the focus of attention at Arsenal, but Adebayor stepped up on the promise he had previously shown to almost look like a clone of Henry in so many ways. A magnificent season for the man from Togo, again 24 goals and 3 assists don't give enough credit to how well he performed.

Cesc Fabregas: Without doubt the most outstanding midfielder in the Premier League last season. Fabregas was awesome for Arsenal and with Adebayor spearheaded an unexpected challenge for the Premier League title.

Xavi6

Personally I wouldn't have Rooney anywhere near the 'Best Player in the World' tag for any year. I think he's a wasteful player in front of goal given the amount of chances he gets, he is completely one dimensional (i.e. when he runs at defenders it's obvious which way he is going to go as he has no left foot), and his poor attitude on the pitch makes him a liability to the team as no one knows when he is going to explode. If referees enforced the letter of the law properly then Rooney would spend a lot more time on the sidelines and be more of a liability than anything else.

IMO he is a very limited player, albeit a good one.

eagle eye

Xavi6 wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't have Rooney anywhere near the 'Best Player in the World' tag for any year. I think he's a wasteful player in front of goal given the amount of chances he gets, he is completely one dimensional (i.e. when he runs at defenders it's obvious which way he is going to go as he has no left foot), and his poor attitude on the pitch makes him a liability to the team as no one knows when he is going to explode. If referees enforced the letter of the law properly then Rooney would spend a lot more time on the sidelines and be more of a liability than anything else.

IMO he is a very limited player, albeit a good one.

Well each to his own Xavi, I just think, as I said earlier, that without him they would not have won the title last season. But then again I'm not saying that they would have done without Ronaldo either, they were both brilliant. I'd put them down as the top two in the world last year.

I've said many time before, I'm not a United fan, if anything I hate them all especially the manager as you well know:D but right now they have at least four players in that team who I would consider to be vying for the best player on the planet, them four being Rooney, Ronaldo, Vidic and Evra.
You gotta hand it to Ferguson, he has put the best team he has ever had together right now and the age of him, you think he'd do us all a favour and roll over and die, its about time United went back to the unreliable outfit they were before he got there.

newballsplease

eagle eye wrote: »

Well each to his own Xavi, I just think, as I said earlier, that without him they would not have won the title last season. But then again I'm not saying that they would have done without Ronaldo either, they were both brilliant. I'd put them down as the top two in the world last year.

I've said many time before, I'm not a United fan, if anything I hate them all especially the manager as you well know:D but right now they have at least four players in that team who I would consider to be vying for the best player on the planet, them four being Rooney, Ronaldo, Vidic and Evra.
You gotta hand it to Ferguson, he has put the best team he has ever had together right now and the age of him, you think he'd do us all a favour and roll over and die, its about time United went back to the unreliable outfit they were before he got there.

thats an awful thing to say

Draupnir

I don't think the winner here is wrong, but just reading the achievements of the players, you'd have to say that in any other season/year, Torres would have absolutely deserved this award and would have won it hands down.

Only for Ronaldo having such an exceptional season, a scoring record like Torres in England first season and scoring the winner in a European Championship final is an absolutely huge achievement, I hadn't really contemplated it until now.

Second point is that I am amazed at the top 23 given in one of the articles listed, Ronaldo is the ONLY United player in there, while there are multiple Liverpool/Chelsea/Juventus players. That confuses me a bit, Vidic, Scholes, Ferdinand, Rooney, Carrick and Evra can all feel hard done by considering their own vital contributions to such big achievements.

Shanotheslayer

Grats Ronaldo.

Messi next year:)

Carroller16

Congratulations Ronaldo.