Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo smiles after receiving FIFA world footballer of the year 2008 award on January 12, 2009 in Zurich. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)
Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi was second and Liverpool's Spanish striker Fernando Torres third.
Portugal winger Ronaldo, 23, won the honour for the first time after helping United win the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup.
The accolade also completed a hat-trick of top individual honours for Ronaldo, who had already won the football journalists' Ballon d'Or trophy and the FIFPro World Player of the Year title voted for by his fellow professionals.
