Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has become the second Portuguese winner of FIFA's Player of Year award.
"This is not the end," Ronaldo told reporters last night after collecting the award from Brazilian legend Pele at a ceremony in Zurich. "I want to be back next year to win it again. It's my ambition that has brought me here and I will remain ambitious."
The 23-year-old topped a poll of national team coaches and captains, with Argentina forward Lionel Messi coming second. Liverpool's Spanish striker Fernando Torres was third, ahead of last year’s Brazilian winner, Kaka of AC Milan. Messi’s Barcelona teammate Xavi of Spain was fifth.
Ronaldo is the second Portuguese winner of FIFA's award following Luis Figo in 2001. He was also voted soccer's best player in an October poll of more than 50,000 footballers by FIFPro, the worldwide players union.
Cristiano's career stats can be found here. His Manchester United page is located here.
Young soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo recently crashed and wrecked his Ferrari. Ronaldo is okay and he passed a breathalizer. Ronaldo has several other sports car so it isn't a big set back for the star and he was lucky to escape unhurt.
European footballer of the year Christiano Ronaldo talks to CNN's Pedro Pinto about returning to football (soccer) from his operation. Ronaldo recently confirmed he would be staying with Manchester United for at least one more season. He said he will do his best to win games and score goals. His profile on the Manchester website can be found here.
Massive celebrations in Spain marked Spain's first European Championship since 1964 when Spain defeated the Soviet Union. Spain defeated Germany 1-0 in a game that starred a lone goal by Fernando Torres. One fan was found dead following the celebrations in Spain. Sporting News has another look at the revelry in Spain.
Anderson Cooper failed to block soccer star David Beckham's attempts at goal during an action filled interview. Anderson Cooper says, "trying to stop his shots is as bruising on the ego as it is on the body." At least the Coop tried to dive and block one of Beckham's kicks. A for Effort.
Galaxy star David Beckham took some time out recently to fight a dragon. In this photographer Beckham portrays the gallant Prince Phillip from Disney's Sleeping Beauty in an image created by world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. Atop a white steed, Beckham, as the brave prince, battles a fire-breathing dragon.
U.S. Apologizes For Dropping Blasphemous Soccer Balls in Afghanistan
The BBC reported recently that the U.S. dropped soccer balls for Afghanistan children from a helicopter. The effort was an attempt to make the Afghanistan children happy. Unfortunately, the balls contained the words Allah and the Prophet Muhammad and greatly angered the villagers. The balls were not well received because they were seen as an insult by the adult villagers. The U.S. has since apologized for dropping the "blasphemous balls."
Some displayed flags from countries all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, which features the shahada, one of the five pillars of Islam - the declaration of faith.
The words, which include the name of Allah, are revered, and Muslims are very sensitive about where and how they can be used.
Saudi Arabia has complained to the World Cup's ruling body in the past about the use of its flag on footballs.
Mullahs in Afghanistan criticised the US forces for their insensitivity, and around 100 people held a demonstration in Khost.
Afghan MP Mirwais Yasini said: "To have a verse of the Koran on something you kick with your foot would be an insult in any Muslim country around the world."
The soccer balls have very attractive colors but unfortunately the concept was not well planned. Given the anger at Mohammed cartoons someone should have realized they wouldn't want Islamic writings on their soccer balls. Most likely someone was trying to be kind and helpful and ended up being unintentionally inconsiderate.
Reuters reports that international football (soccer) star David Beckham has scored his first goal for the Los Angeles Galaxy. The goal was made from a free kick.
David Beckham scored his first goal for Los Angeles Galaxy in their SuperLiga semi-final against D.C. United on Wednesday, striking with a free kick in the 27th minute.
The 32-year-old midfielder, wearing the captain's armband in his first start for the Major League Soccer (MLS) club, curved one of his trademark strikes into the top left corner of the net from 25 meters, leaving goalkeeper Troy Perkins stranded.
Beckham, hampered by an injured left ankle for the last two months, had made only two fleeting appearances for the Galaxy since joining them last month.
In the Reuters photo Beckham is sticking out his tongue like Michael Jordan sometimes used to do. He does wear Jordan's number #23. Beckham stats can be found here.
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo 
The BBC 
Reuters 