'Spectacular' Ronaldo deserved award - Ancelotti

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Cristiano Ronaldo was the worthy winner of the Ballon d’Or.

The Manchester United winger beat Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres to claim the prestigious award.

Ronaldo succeeded AC Milan playmaker Kaka, who won the trophy in 2007.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best and most spectacular players in the world,” said Ancelotti.

The fact that no Serie A player was voted in the top five, with Kaka finishing eighth and Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic voted ninth, did not come as a surprise to Ancelotti.

“The Ballon d’Or depends on the trophies you win while the Champions League also plays an important role,” he said.

“Kaka has already won it while Ibrahimovic is destined to win it in the future.

“But Italian football gives more importance to the collective rather than individual play. This was evident in the World Cup won by the Italian national team in 2006.”

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

The 23-year-old was a runaway winner polling 77 of the 96 votes cast by journalists and Figo said his former Portugal team-mate’s award was a source for national pride.

“I’m very proud that Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or,” he told Inter Milan’s official website www.inter.it.

Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz, who was United’s assistant coach last season before taking up the role with the national team, also congratulated Ronaldo on his award.

“Cristiano has worked very hard to deserve it,” Queiroz told the Portugal Football Federation (FPF) website. “I want to congratulate him and emphasise this distinction.”