++ Breaking News ++ Christiano Ronaldo Named World Player of the Year by Fifa

So after little speculation, very uncontroversially Christiano Ronaldo has been named FIFA World Player of the Year for 2008. Wikipedia is already updated with the news.

After winning the English Premier League, the Champions League and the Club World Cup with and scoring an unbelievable 43 goals along the way in the 2007/08 season the boy from Madeira has reached the pinnacle of the world game at just 23 years of age.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Christiano Ronaldo has been the outstanding player of the last two years, and it is encouraging to finally see a player from the English Premier League handed the accolade, after having some notable near-misses.

A quick look back the winners since the award began in 1991 reveals perhaps the final hurdle for the Premier League. If they want the reputation for being the globes top league, then there will need to be more winners from the English Clubs. There has never been a winner of English Nationality, David Beckham came second twice (1999 & 2001), and Frank Lampard once (2005). Alan Shearer got third (1996) as did Gary Lineker (1991).

No doubt the award will not have escaped the attention of Real Madrid, who will undoubtedly be talking to the press regarding Christiano in the coming days.

FIFA World Player of the Year winners:
2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) Manchester United
2007: Kaka (BRA) AC Milan
2006: Fabio Cannavaro (ITA) Real Madrid
2005: Ronaldinho (BRA) Barcelona
2004: Ronaldinho (BRA) Barcelona
2003: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Real Madrid
2002: Ronaldo (BRA) Real Madrid
2001: Luis Figo (POR) Real Madrid
2000: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Juventus
1999: Rivaldo (BRA) Barcelona
1998: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Juventus
1997: Ronaldo (BRA) Inter Milan
1996: Ronaldo (BRA) Barcelona
1995: George Weah (LBR) AC Milan
1994: Romario (BRA) Barcelona
1993: Roberto Baggio (ITA) Juventus
1992: Marco van Basten (NED) AC Milan
1991: Lothar Matthaus (GER) Bayern Munich