Cristiano Ronaldo wins FIFA player of year awardUpdated: January 12, 2009, 3:42 PM ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA World Player of the Year award on Monday to complete a clean sweep of football's top individual honors for 2008.
The 23-year-old Portugal winger was honored for his dominating displays and sparkling goals in leading Manchester United to both the Premier League and Champions League titles in May, receiving 935 votes in a worldwide poll of national team captains and coaches.
The five nominees - Xavi, Fernando Torres, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kaka - pose together. (Fabrice Coffrini / Getty Images)
"It is an overwhelming moment, a very special moment in my life," Ronaldo said in his acceptance speech. "I would like to say to my mother and sister that the fireworks can be fired off now."
The results were announced by Brazil's all-time great Pele at a ceremony in Zurich, with Barcelona and Argentina midfielder Lionel Messi coming in second with 678 votes, while Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was third with 203.
Brazil's Marta won the women's award for the third year in a row.
Ronaldo became the first player from the English Premier League to win in the award in its 18-year history, after scoring 42 goals in all competitions last season.
Ronaldo was widely expected to receive the honor, after previously winning the Ballon D'Or as European player of the year and World Soccer magazine's player of the year award. Before the award was announced, the orchestra at the Zurich Opera House even gave a not-so-subtle hint by playing an aria from Handel's "Rinaldo."
AC Milan playmaker Kaka, last year's winner, and Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez were also finalists for the award.
Ronaldo is the second Portuguese player to win the title following Luis Figo in 2001, when David Beckham - who also wore the No. 7 shirt for Manchester United - was runner-up.
"It is a dream for me to get this prize because I want to bring the team and my country forward," Ronaldo said. "I would like to dedicate it to my family. This is the most important thing to me."