Ronaldo Picks Up Ballon d’Or In Paris

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Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d'Or 2008

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The Manchester United player was voted the winner of the award after his exploits last season which saw him claim a Premier League and Champions League double and hit 42 goals for his club.

After receiving the honour in Paris, he revealed his delight and admitted claiming the trophy was a dream come true.

“I'm very, very happy,” said Ronaldo on French TV station TF1, “It's a dream I've had since I was younger, I've always dreamed about winning it one day.”

The Portuguese player also went on to dedicate the award to his family and to thank them for all their support. 

“I'm very moved, very happy and I'd like to take this opportunity to dedicate this trophy to my family, they've helped me get here,” he said before adding, “The trophy is splendid, marvellous, very beautiful. I've waited for this.”

Ronaldo finished ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres in the vote for Europe’s top player, yet he took time out to pay tribute to his fellow footballers and, in particular, his team mates.

He said: “But I'd like to thank my fellow professionals especially my team-mates without whom I wouldn't have been able to win the Ballon d'Or.

“It's also thanks to them that I have this award.”

A clearly emotional Ronaldo also revealed that winning the award had always been an ambition of his.

He explained “I was 18 when I came to Manchester, very young. I always had great hopes of becoming a great footballer, in Europe and the world and that's what I've always tried to do - to improve year by year.

“Of course it's not been easy but I don't regret anything that I've done to get here.

“I always dreamed of lifting this trophy and it's thanks to God that I have it now.”

Gill Clark, Goal.com