Real Madrid

Cannavaro: Ronaldo Deserved Ballon d'Or, But He Flopped At Euro 2008

The 2006 Golden Ball winner has given his views on the Man United ace and insists the win was worthy of every merit, but adds that the player was a flop at Euro 2008.

Dec 3, 2008 11:27:57 AM

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Fabio Cannavaro, Italy (Grazia Neri)

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Real Madrid stopper Fabio Cannavaro believes Cristiano Ronaldo fully deserves the Ballon d'Or even though the Manchester United ace was poor at the Euro 2008 championships.

The Italian could have been teammates with Ronnie had the Portugal international left the Red Devils for Los Merengues in the summer.

That never happened but nevertheless Ronaldo has been outstanding and the World Cup winner, who won the award in 2006, bowed down to him.

"He fully deserves the Ballon d'Or but he was off the boil at the Euros," Cannavaro told La Stampa.

"However, that didn't matter too much because of what he did before. A Premier League, a Champions League and 42 goals, he didn't have to do anything else.

"I voted for Cristiano Ronaldo, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and Iker Casillas. The best player of the year and the other two are good friends of mine."

Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com