Cristiano Ronaldo has been crowned European Footballer of the Year by France Football magazine. Ronaldo, 23, won the prestigious Ballon d'Or trophy after scoring 42 goals as Manchester United won the Champions League and Premier League last season.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was second and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was third. Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were also in the running to succeed Kaka as Europe's top star.

However, Ronaldo's defining role in United's Double-winning season won over the 96 journalists on the Ballon D'Or panel.

 RECENT BALLON D'OR WINNERS
2007 Kaka
2006 Fabio Cannavaro
2005 Ronaldinho
2004 Andriy Shevchenko
2003 Pavel Nedved
2002 Ronaldo
2001 Michael Owen
2000 Luis Figo

The Portuguese international became only the fifth player to score more than 30 goals in a Premier League season as United pipped Chelsea to the domestic title.