Ronaldo finds world at his feet

CRISTIANO Ronaldo has received a huge boost in his bid to be named as World Footballer of the Year - the backing of one of his main rivals for the award, Kaka.

The United ace is one of five Reds among the 50 nominees for the Ballon d'Or, the most prestigious prize an individual footballer can win, and which will be announced on December 2.

And he is among the favourites after last year inspiring United to the Premier League title and to the semi-finals of the Champions League, and guiding Portugal to the World Cup semi-finals.

The award, which used to be known as European Footballer of the Year until its scope was widened last year, depends on a poll of 96 football writers worldwide.

But AC Milan's Brazilian superstar Kaka has already said that if he had a vote, it would go to his rival, saying: "I would vote for Cristiano as the best in the world.

"It is not just for his quality, but also as he has been able to do so well with Portugal. Lionel Messi is also a great player, but he has not won any titles this year."

Award

The award, presented by the magazine France Football, originated 51 years ago when Stanley Matthews first won it.

Since then, only three United players have lifted it, with George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton all winning it in the 1960s - Best was the last to win it after helping the Reds to glory in the 1968 European Cup final.

The only United players to have come close in the past 38 years were Eric Cantona, who finished third in the 1993 poll, and David Beckham, who came second in 1999.

Illustrious names to have won the title include Johann Cruyff, Marco van Basten and Michel Platini, the only three men to have won it three times, as well as Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, Ruud Gullit, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Eusebio and Alfredo di Stefano.

But Ronaldo is expected to fight it out with Kaka and Barcelona's Argentinian ace Lionel Messi for this year's award, which for the first time gives the vote to 43 journalists from outside Europe.

Among Ronaldo's rivals are four United team-mates, with Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Carlos Tevez all nominated - only Barcelona, who have seven nominees, have more.