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13/01/09
Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted FIFA World Player of the Year for 2008, beating Barçelona's Lionel Messi and Liverpool's Fenando Torres. Cristiano Ronaldo (935 points) won more points
than Messi (678) and Torres (203) put together. Milan's Kaká (who won the trophy last year) and Barcelona's Xavi were fourth and fifth, respectively. The only other Portuguese player on the list was Deco, 23rd with
one point.
After receiving the trophy from Pelé in Zürich, the Portuguese national team and Manchester United forward said: "This is a special moment for me. Unique. I want to thank my mother, my father, my
sisters and the whole family. Now they can let off the fireworks they've been keeping. I also want to thank my friends. They know who they are, but I have to mention Zé, my agent Jorge Mendes and all the
others. And my team-mates, because without them i couldn't have made it. I'm really very happy. It's one of the happiest moments of my life. I hope to be back."
Cristiano Ronaldo is only the second Portuguese player to receive the accolade since its inception in 1991; Luís Figo won it in 2001.
09/01/09
Sporting president Filipe Soares Franco
has announced that he is not going to stand again for president in the club's elections of May/June. He has cited other business commitments as the reason for his decision. He also believes that the sócios
(club members) would not agree with his plans to get the club out of its financial predicament; it is in the red to the tune of over 200 million euros.
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo crashed his 350,000 euro Ferrari 599 in a tunnel on the way to training on Thursday but emerged unscathed.
Portugal international full-back Miguel of Valência has been banned for three games. He was sent off in the last minute of the 1-1 draw with Racing Santander in the Taça del Rey on Wednesday and allegedly said to the referee "You b*st*rd, I'm going to kill you, you're a b*st*rd." He has since apologised.
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