Messi and Robinho admit Ronaldo is The Best Player in the World

With news out that Ronaldo will be awarded the Ballon d'Or this Tuesday, two contenders for next year's title, Lionel Messi and Robinho, believe that Ronaldo deserves to be named The Best Player in the World for 2008.

Said Messi:

“He won the Champions League, the Premier League as well, so I think he will be awarded the prize..."

Said Robinho:

“Cristiano is one of the best players in the world. I’m sure he will win the FIFA award this year. He deserves it.”

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Ronaldo wins Golden Shoe

Not only is Ronaldo the best player in the world but he is also the top scorer in Europe according to European Sports Magazines rankings.

That feat earned him the Golden Shoe award.

Can Robinho be The Best Player in the World?

Manchester City's Robinho believes that he can become The Best Player in the World:

"My objective is to be the best in the world, without a doubt...I hope that in the next few years I can compete in the trophy for the best player in the world."

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Best Player in the World a leg-breaker?

24-year old Brazil and Fluminense centreback Thiago Silva believes that Cristiano Ronaldo tried to break his leg in the Brazil-Portugal friendly last week:

"He [Cristiano Ronaldo] has the cheek to say I jumped over his tackle. But if I did not jump he would have broken my leg...Being considered the best player in the world, he must have more respect. It is difficult to accept what he did...He is a little [naughty], yes. But that is football. And we need to know to deal with it. He was nervous because he couldn't create anything."

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Pele expects to present Ronaldo with FIFA award

Speaking ahead of Portugal's friendly with Brazil, Cristiano Ronaldo joked:

"I am the first, second and third best player in the world...But there are other good candidates, like Kaka, [Lionel] Messi and [Fernando] Torres."

Brazil legend Pele was not so over-the-top but did admit that he expected that he would be presenting the Portugese star with the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in December.

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Higginbotham doubts Ronaldo has a weakness

After a resounding 5-Nil defeat to United, Stoke's left-back Danny Higginbotham said of Ronaldo: "The lad was absolutely brilliant - you just have to say what a great player he is. He's the best in the world, there's no doubt about it. I don't believe he has a weakness."

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Messi likes Xavi and Aguero for Ballon d'Or

"Messi has claimed that either Xavi Hernandez or Sergio Agüero should take the honour, while Ronaldo has plumped for himself as the most deserving nominee."

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Henry says Messi is from another world

Barca teammate Thierry Henry thinks that Lionel Messi is The Best Player in the World:

"Messi is the best. What he does is from another world...He is exceptional...After watching Arsenal against Manchester United, I insist Cristiano Ronaldo is one thing and Messi is another...There is no comparison. Messi deserves to win the Ballon d'Or this year."

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Kaka says Ronaldo deserves to be called The Best Player in the World

Speaking ahead of this month's friendly between Brazil and Portugal, 2007's World Player of the Year Kaka said of Cristiano Ronaldo:

"And I want to beat Cristiano, who will deservedly win the Ballon d'Or, and make all Brazilian people happy."

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FourFourTwo names Ronaldo The Best Player in the World

We're still waiting on the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player awards to be decided but another footie opinion-maker, FourFourTwo, has come out with their list for The Best Player in the World.

And - surprise - Cristiano Ronaldo earns the title.

Said FourFourTwo editor-in-chief Hugh Sleight:

“There were other contenders, but ultimately Ronaldo’s personal achievements, coupled with his team’s success, secured him the No.1 spot.”

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Wilson prepared to face The Best Player in the World

"I've played against Ronaldinho in the past, but I think Ronaldo just now is incredible...He is probably as good an opponent as any of our players have ever come up against. He is a guy who can do everything. He looks unhappy when he scores just now, but he is still scoring loads."

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The Best Players in the World are all divers

So there.

That's what Cristiano Ronaldo thinks:

“If we have to talk about divers then we have to talk about all the best players in the world...They are the ones who are the most difficult to stop and attract the most fouls. So they fall more than others...Even the biggest heroes also end up falling. I am used to this criticism...I will continue to be the player I am, aiming to win collective and individual titles. That makes me very proud, above what people may think.”

He's so right. The best players have always been targetted with physical play by the less skillfull.

Ronaldo also once more made an argument for himself to be named The Best Player in the World:

“We will know shortly if I’m the best player in the world. For the moment I don’t know...There are many other candidates for the Ballon d’Or but the one who has to win is the one who was the best during the year...I was very consistent. I was champion in England and I won the Champions League. I was the top scorer in Europe, the top scorer in the Champions League. Everything I did, I did well. I had an extraordinary season. The rest I don’t control.”


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