Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned World player of the year in Zurich, making him the first footballer based on these shores to win the fifa award since its inception in 1991. It gives the 23 year old a clean sweep of all the recognized major individual and club honors available to the footballer and ends 18 memorable months for the winger. Presented with the award by Pele, the Portugal midfielder thanked his “Family and friends for a very special moment in my life”. By winning the vote cast by international coaches and captains, Ronaldo beat Liverpool’s Fernando Torres, last year’s winner, Kaka, and the Barcelona players Lionel Messi and Xavi. Last month, he was voted European Footballer of the year and he is the current Football writers’ and PFA player of the year. He also won the Premier League, Champions League and World club championship with United, and is the holder of the Golden Boot, the award given to Europe’s top scorer, for his 42 goals last season