Ronaldo named PFA's Player of the Year

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year.

The 23-year-old Manchester United winger retains the trophy after scoring 38 goals so far this season. "I feel very happy. It is a great moment, it is an honour, a pleasure," said the Portuguese star.

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas picked up the young player of the year award, but - like Gunners colleague Emmanuel Adebayor, Pompey keeper David James and Liverpool pair Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard - was beaten by the Portugal international.

Ronaldo was also among the nominees for the Young Player of the Year award, which he won last year, but Fabregas won the junior award ahead of Torres, Micah Richards, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young.

Ronaldo did not attend the event, as he is preparing for his club's Champions League semi-final second leg with Barcelona on Tuesday night, but was presented with the gong by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

"When you work all season to play good, to do something for the team, to do your contribution for the team and then at the end of the season the PFA give you this award, it is a great moment, it is an honour, a pleasure," said Ronaldo.

"It is a great motivation to carry on like that, to work more and get better. I feel very good. But it's not just my award: my team-mates have helped me a lot this season. They give me good passes to score goals."

Ronaldo revealed that he cast his vote for Arsenal striker Adebayor, but believes justice was done. "I voted for Adebayor because I think he has had a great season as well," he said. "But you have many players who have had a good season - Torres, Fabregas, many players. But I think I deserve to win!"

For his part, Fabregas said "I'm very proud. It's a very prestigious trophy. Football is a collective game and you prefer to win trophies with team-mates but it's always nice to have this type of award. I dedicate it to my team-mates because without them I would not have won."

BBC broadcaster and former England and Blackpool full-back Jimmy Armfield received the Merit Award for his services to the game, to go with the Outstanding Contribution Award he was presented with earlier in the year at the Football League Awards.


To read FourFourTwo's exclusive interview with Cristiano Ronaldo from March 2007 click here

To see what Peter Schmeichel thinks of Ronaldo, read the web-exclusive interview here

To see Ronaldo's free-kick against Portsmouth - and a host of other brilliant set-piece goals - click here

But was this free-kick in Spain even better? Our bloggers think so...


FA Premier League Team of the Year David James (Portsmouth), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Man United), Nemanja Vidic (Man United), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man United), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

PFA Championship Team of the Year Wayne Hennessy (Wolves), Bradley Orr (Bristol City), Ryan Shawcross (Stoke), Dan Shittu (Watford), Paul Robinson (West Brom), Brian Howard (Barnsley), Marvin Elliott (Bristol City), Liam Lawrence (Stoke), Jonathan Greening (West Brom), Ricardo Fuller (Stoke), Kevin Phillips (West Brom)

PFA League One Team of the Year Kieren Westwood (Carlisle), Angel Rangel (Swansea), Garry Monk (Swansea), Danny Livesey (Carlisle), Julian Bennett (Nottingham Forest), Andy Robinson (Swansea), Ferrie Bodde (Swansea), Kris Commons (Nottm Forest), Richie Wellens (Doncaster), Jermaine Beckford (Leeds), Jason Scotland (Swansea).

PFA League Two Team of the Year Joe Lewis (Peterborough), Craig Pead (Brentford), Stephen Foster (Darlington), Danny Swailes (MK Dons), Dean Lewington (MK Dons), Jason Puncheon (Barnet), Keith Andrews (MK Dons), Lloyd Dyer (MK Dons), George Boyd (Peterborough), Jack Lester (Chesterfield), Aaron McLean (Peterborough).