Ronaldo: award won’t burden me

CRISTIANO RONALDO insists winning the Ballon d’Or award will not increased the pressure on him to perform.

The Manchester United forward was handed the prestigious award yesterday to crown a phenomenal 12 months in which he scored 42 goals last season to help his club retain the Barclays Premier League title and win the Champions League.

Ronaldo, who came second behind Kaka last year, beat Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, second and third respectively, to the honour.

The 23-year-old’s coronation was a resounding one, with 77 of the 96 writers voting him as their number one player of the year in a poll which formerly rewarded Europe’s best player, but has been expanded to include players from all over the world.

And Ronaldo insists the accolade will only help to improve his performances.

“I always play with pressure because people always expect a lot from me and I don’t think that will change,” he said.

“Winning this award makes me feel very happy inside because it’s one of the best days of my life.

“But my responsibilities are still the same; I want to continue to play well for my club and my country and try to do as well as last season.

“Of course I can improve — there are many things I still need to learn.

“You can never let yourself think you know everything. I am still very ambitious and I will continue to work very hard every day. I know it will be very hard to better last season, but I will try — if you don’t try, you win nothing. A new season means a new challenge and I want to help the team win more trophies.”

Ronaldo added: “It’s amazing that only four players in the club’s history have won it. I didn’t know that until yesterdays o it’s special for the club

Ronaldo became the third Portuguese player to win the award after Inter Milan veteran Luis Figo (2000) and legendary striker Eusebio (1965).

United manager Alex Ferguson said: “It’s fantastic. He deserved to win it, 42 goals for a winger is quite unbelievable. He was incredible last season for us. He shows great courage and wants to play with skill, which is a great credit to him.

Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz, who was United’s assistant coach last season before taking up the role with the national team, also congratulated Ronaldo: “Cristiano has worked very hard to deserve it,” Queiroz said.