The European Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has been nominated in a shortlist of five players to win the ultimate reward for last season’s performances: the Fifa Player of the Year award.

Amongst the nominated players are Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi, and the reigning Fifa Player of the Year Ricardo Kaka of AC Milan. The Spanish duo, composed of Euro 2008’s best footballer Xavi Hernandez and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres, completes the shortlist.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite to grab the prize. The Portuguese Superstar, who already possesses the previous four possible awards (that is to say the UEFA Club Forward and Player of the Year awards, the FIFPro Player of the Year trophy and the recent Ballon d’Or award), will emulate Kaka’s achievement if he is indeed declared Fifa Player of the Year.

This shortlist was created by coaches and captains who voted. Cristiano Ronaldo is presently recognized as the world’s best footballer, not only by his fellow professionals but also by journalists around the globe while European coaches consider him as Europe’s finest player.

Let’s wait and see if Ronaldo wins the Fifa Player of the Year award when the ceremony takes place next year on January 12th.

Written by: Angela Asante