Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d’Or

Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United's talismanic Portuguese winger, won the Ballon d'Or, France Football magazine's trophy given to the outstanding world footballer of the last year. Putting the disappointment of his sending-off against Manchester City on Sunday behind him, "Ronaldo, who finished second to Kaka, of AC Milan, last year was the overwhelming choice this time around, having enjoyed a stunning season in which he scored 42 goals for United in all competitions," writes Richard Neale in the Times. "It is only the second time in the last 19 years that a player from the Premier League has won the trophy, the other being Michael Owen, the England international, in 2001 while he was with Liverpool."