Man United Star Ronaldo Captures Ballon d'Or

December 4, 2008 8:30 a.m. EST

Manchester, England (AHN) - Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo comfortably won the iconic Ballon d'Or trophy Tuesday following a scorching display of talent for the Red Devils.

The Portuguese national team standout beat Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Fernando Torres of Liverpool.

Ronaldo, already the FIFPro World Player of the Year in 2007-08, garnered 446 points out of the maximum 480, handily beating Messi, who had 281 points and Torres, who received 179 points.

The 23-year-old star gained 77 no. 1 votes from a pool of 96 top journalists and became the third player from Portugal to win the prestigious award. Eusebio and Luis Figo were the only other Portuguese stars to have done it.

Ronaldo also joins an elite list of former Red Devils to have clinched the plum-Denis Law in 1964, Bobby Charlton in 1966 and George Best in 1968.

Ronaldo, the second-placer last year when Kaka won the award, followed Michael Owen's accomplishment in 2001 as the previous player to do it from the Premiership.

''It is one of the most beautiful days of my life. To gain this trophy is something I dreamed of as a child," Ronaldo told France Football.

Last season, Ronaldo scored a total of 42 goals for the Red Devils. He currently has nine goals for the reigning champions, who are third in the table with 28 points this season.