Cristiano wins the players' vote

Yesterday, FifPro, a worldwide representative organisation for professional football players, with more than 57,500 members, named Cristiano Ronaldo as The Best Player in the World.

Said Ronaldo of this particular version of The Best Player in the World title:

"To be recognised by my fellow players is amazing...I would like to thank my team-mates and coaches and everyone involved at United and the national team, as well as my family and friends for their support."

Cristiano awaits now the verdicts of the Ballon d'Or (voted by journalists) and FIFA (voted by managers and captains) to confirm his status as The Best Player in the World.

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Cristiano votes for himself

"I am completely confident...If you assess what I did over the course of the season; I think I did more than anyone. What more could I have done to win the Ballon d'Or and the Fifa award?"

The question is will Messi do the same?

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Sir Alex votes for Cristiano

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson thinks that Ronaldo deserves both the European and World Footballer of the Year awards:

"I think Ronaldo will win both of them...If he doesn't I want to sign the guy who does win them."

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Lippi votes for Messi

Italy's World Cup winning manager Marcello Lippi has publicly cast his vote this year's Best Player in the World:

"For me the candidates for the Ballon D'or are just three: Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Messi. They could have done without the rest...As for who is the best in the world, in my opinion it's Leo Messi."

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Greening thinks Rooney may be best right now

After losing to United 4 - nil at the weekend, West Brom captain Jonathan Greening came to this conclusion about Wayne Rooney:

"Rooney is just awesome, isn’t he? He is one of the best players in the world — if not the best — even at his young age...He’s fast and he’s strong. I don’t think there’s a weakness in his game. It simply doesn’t matter where Alex Ferguson decides to play him. You’ve just got to let him play where he feels he will be effective...If he is getting joy down the left, he’ll go there and if he’s getting joy down the right, he’ll go there. If he’s getting joy in the hole, he’ll play there. He’s just an amazing player."

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Ruud thinks Cristiano will win Ballon d'Or

"My vote would be for (Iker) Casillas," Van Nistelrooy is quoted as saying, "however, I think Cristiano will win.""A player like him would be good for any team. I think everything about that subject has already been said," he concluded.

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Pep says Iniesta is best

Barcelona's new manager Pep Guardiola has a wealth of talent at his disposal but seems to prize Andres Iniesta the most. In fact he thinks Iniesta may be the best player in any club:

"The best in the world? If anybody deserves to be, it’s him, there no doubt about that...But it is impossible to win individual honours if your team doesn’t win. I have to remind my players about that from time to time...For a player of such a high calibre to be so willing to play wherever he is asked sets an example for all footballers and sportspeople...His best position? The players that tip the balance need to be hovering around the area. The nearer they are the better."

Pep may be right. From where I sat, I thought Iniesta was the best player on Spain's winning team at the Euros - better than even the great Xabi.

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Robihno aims to be the best player in the world

He says:

"It isn't because of money, it is simply because I want to leave. My personal aim is to be the best player in the world and that isn't going to be possible at Real Madrid."

But is it possible? Cristiano Ronaldo is not yet done with the title and there are other great players knocking at the door.

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