Cristiano Ronaldo is 2008 FIFPro Player of the Year

Ronaldo is the best...

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the FIFPro World Player of the Year award for 2008. Ronaldo was also included in the FIFPro World XI Team alongside teammate Rio Ferdinand and several other players from the English Premier League.

Ronaldo has already won the European Player of the Year award, and now has the Ballon D’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards to look forward to as the world of football rewards the amazing season the Manchester United and Portugal winger had in 2007/2008.

While there will be few arguments against most inclusions in the final World XI list, the presence of Puyol and Kaka is surprising considering that many other defenders and midfielders in the list of 55 nominees had far better seasons than those two. Still, it’s fellow professionals voting for each other and merit can only get you so far.

Nominees

Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Celtic), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Petr Cech (Chelsea), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United).

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan), Pepe (Real Madrid), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Yuriy Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow).

Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Kaka (AC Milan), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Xavi (Barcelona).

Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Carlos Tevez (Manchester Untied), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia).

FifPro World XI:

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Spain/Real Madrid)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid); John Terry (England/Chelsea); Carles Puyol (Spain/ Barcelona); Rio Ferdinand (England/Manchester United)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (England/Liverpool); Xavi (Spain/Barcelona); Kaka (Brazil/AC Milan).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona); Fernando Torres (Spain/Liverpool); Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Manchester United)

Topics: Bundesliga, English Premier League, Features, La Liga, Ligue 1, Scottish Premier League, Serie A

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23 Comments

  1. Nate

    It’s gotta be Torres

    October 21st, 2008 @ 20:56
  2. Duncan

    1st.Ronaldo

    2nd.Messi
    3rd.Casillas

    October 22nd, 2008 @ 03:35
  3. Xpensiv

    All hail king RONALDO!!!

    October 22nd, 2008 @ 06:00
  4. Holman

    A great list of players, every one is skillful and athletic. But it should be between Rooney, Messi and Deco for thinking two moves ahead of the rest.

    October 22nd, 2008 @ 08:03
  5. debo

    i honestly dont understand but they ll do the usual nonsense but it ought 2 be ronnie and others!

    October 22nd, 2008 @ 09:05
  6. Sam

    How can they put Gael Clichy in this list ahead of Jamie Carragher. Its just nonsense to me. I feel that Carra doesn’t get enough recognition. I mean he is DEFINATELY one of the top defenders in the world and has proved it year by year with his consistence performances. How can anyone say that Gael Clichy has had a better season than Jamie Carragher?
    I’m not saying he should win, but he deserves to be on this list atleast

    October 22nd, 2008 @ 10:36
  7. MDH

    Clichy should be on the list, he’s been the best fullback in the premiership apart from Evra and within the Arsenal team, who have had a better year than Liverpool, he was probably the most consistent performer. Whats Carragher done thats so much better?

    October 22nd, 2008 @ 10:54
  8. jamie_sheffield_owl

    Rio is the best defender in the world reckon he should be 3rd top is the usual ronaldo followed by messi

    October 22nd, 2008 @ 12:26
  9. Jake

    Where’s paul scholes?

    October 22nd, 2008 @ 13:25
  10. GT

    wtf happened to Giorgio Chiellini? and Amauri? Why is the football world so racist towards Juventus?

    October 22nd, 2008 @ 13:44
  11. Javier is Ace!

    I reckon it should be Javier Mascherano. He’s the best player in the world. Cmon the monster Masche!Javier Mascheranooo!! oooh oooh ooooh!

    October 22nd, 2008 @ 17:38
  12. sone

    ronaldo then messi then gerard

    October 26th, 2008 @ 07:31
  13. Koewart

    I am a bit surprised about gerrard being named in the World XI. I thought he wasn’t that impressive last season.

    October 27th, 2008 @ 20:45
  14. MDH

    Neither terry

    October 28th, 2008 @ 00:20
  15. Jenno

    But these are what the players themselves think so he must have had more of an influence then we can probably see just by watching

    October 28th, 2008 @ 03:48
  16. BD Condell

    Fair selection all round I think. We can all argue endlessly based on our personal bias but I’m happy to accept the players verdict. All quality.

    October 28th, 2008 @ 11:01
  17. Ahmed Bilal

    Ronaldo accepts the award with considerable grace…

    I have to admit, it’s hard to argue with Ronnie :)

    October 28th, 2008 @ 16:12
  18. Hacjience

    What about Gary Neville??! I can’t believe the football world is so biased towards Gary Neville! Surely he had a much better season then Gael Clichy? Oh wait…

    October 29th, 2008 @ 11:02
  19. karl

    @Ahmed
    Yeah, but who can argue about his performances on the pitch…
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7d4I-HR6iw
    :-)

    October 29th, 2008 @ 12:55
  20. moynul

    has 2 be ronaldo 1st man – i mean 44 goals a season – not even a striker really iz jus amazing man
    torres shud be 2nd nd 3rd will be messi

    heheh

    November 14th, 2008 @ 16:34
  21. Ray

    Ronaldo was obvious a midfielder scoring 44 goals… But Torres 3RD!!! talk about struggling! how can messi be 2nd? Barcelona won nothing and argentina won nothing and he only scored 15 goals! Torres got 33 goals in his first season of english football and got to the champions league semi final then to top it off won the european championships for spain scoring the winner for spain…. good luck judges.. maybe give me a call next time and i can help you out.. Oh and carragher not in the nominees oh dear!

    December 5th, 2008 @ 11:15
  22. oscar

    first….ronaldo..
    fallowed by…messi..and den
    david villa..

    April 11th, 2009 @ 22:13
  23. OSKER IGNACIO

    RONALDO FIRST DEN CESC FABREGAS.///AFTER
    DAVID VILLA
    AND DA MEXICANS TOO WAT ABOUTE MARQUEZ OR GUARDADO
    AND EVEN NERY CASTILLO..

    April 11th, 2009 @ 22:16

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