Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2009 year was somehow overshadowed by Lionel Messi’s unprecedented achievements with Barcelona and individual success.

However, the former FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or winner is starting 2010 just as he ended the year 2008 in successful fashion.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the most popular sports personality on Facebook, the world’s most expensive player, the world’s most iconic football star, and now Castrol Rankings’ number one footballer ahead of Barcelona’s Thierry Henri and Lionel Messi.

Castrol Rankings was launched last September and Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked at number 3 among Europe’s top 5 footballers according to Castrol Performance Analysis.

Castrol uses high technology; over the past 12 months, it measured every tackle, move, and passes of Europe’s 2,000 players that are based in Europe’s 5 top leagues.

It was recently revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo had been the greatest performer with the most influence. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored seven goals for Real Madrid in nine La Liga appearances and he is also the UEFA Champions League top scorer with six goals in four matches.

At Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo helped the club to have an average of 1,9 goals per match instead of the 1,2 goals per match that the Red Devils had without his services.

In Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo rises Los Blancos’ statistics from 2,0 goals per game (when he is absent) to 2,9 goals per game (when he is present).

Expressing his gratitude, Cristiano Ronaldo told the media:

“For me, it is an honor to top the Castrol Rankings ahead of great players like Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry.

“Now that I have reached the number one spot, I’ll do everything that I can in order to hold on to the
position.

“I know that the only way to hold on to this position will be to maintain my form as the Castrol Rankings measures performances over 12 months.

“It’s a great motivation for me because great players must consistently perform well and at the highest level. That is exactly what I aim to do.”

Many people criticized his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid, branding it as a “love-for-more-money-affair”.

However, Cristiano Ronaldo has always underlined his priority of fulfilling his childhood dream and he once again did it in his declaration:

“Switching to Spain last year offered me a great challenge. I believe that this result (top spot in the Castrol Rankings) shows how much I’ve responded well to it.”

Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to score his first goal for Real Madrid in the year 2010 whereas Lionel Messi has already mesmerized fans with a hat-trick against Tenerife last weekend.

However, CR9 might find the net this weekend when Los Blancos play away to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga.

Angela Asante, Cristiano Ronaldo Fan Editor