Cristiano Ronaldo Wins Ballon D’or

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the European Footballer of the year by France Football Magazine. He is the first Portuguese player to win the prestigious Ballon D’or since Luis Figo in 2000. Ronaldo divides opinion however. To fans of Manchester United and Portugal he is a goalscoring genius whose technical ability, aerial prowess and searing pace render him untouchable in the modern game. To others he is a symbol of modern footballer’s greed, a cheat and a man who disappears when the pressure is really on.

Euro 2008 was as disappointing for Ronaldo individually as it was for Portugal as whole. Upon arrival, he was expected to set the tournament alight but Ronaldo struggled to make an impact and Portugal were eliminated in the quarter-finals. This though, was about the only disappointment of the player’s year. Ronaldo’s 42 goals and numerous assists propelled Manchester United the English Premier League title and Champions League crown. Without the contribution of the Portuguese, this double would never have been possible. His contribution to games was often spectacular to behold too. His stopovers, flicks and skills thrilled fans at United’s Old Trafford Stadium and he has become a renowned dead ball specialist through his venomous, swerving free kicks. No other player can claim to have been as effective and influential over the passed twelve months.

Ronaldo should be loved more than he is though. His actions, both on and the pitch can irritate opposing fans and have made him a figure of hate among some followers of the game. Firstly he is perceived to be a cheat. He has a reputation for diving and feigning injury and regularly complains about opponents to referees. Ronaldo has also been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid and has seemed to encourage the speculation in a bid to force a transfer through. Many fans see this as an immoral lack of loyalty, shown by a man earning well over £100,000 a week.

Second in the polling for the Ballon D’or, due to sparkling recent form was Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi. At this moment in time, Messi’s form is the driving force behind Barcelona’s rise to the top of the Spanish League. On current form he is probably the world’s most influential player, but more crucially he is perceived to be far more likeable than Ronaldo. Messi’s close dribbling skills, pace and goals make him an equally attractive player to watch for the fans and his outward positivity in games makes him far more endearing to the casual observer.

Ronaldo has justifiably been recognised as having been the best player of the last 12 months. If he is to win the award again however and beat players like Messi, he may have to work on his image. If the Argentine can sustain his current form in the long term, he will outshine the Portuguese not only with his ability but with his on field personality. Ronaldo can currently only excite in spite of his.