Ronaldo humbled by honour

Ronaldo: The best player on the planet

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Cristiano Ronaldo has denied claiming he is the best player on the planet after collecting the Ballon d'Or.

The Manchester United superstar was in Paris on Sunday to pick up his award from France Football magazine.

The Portuguese winger had been quoted in recent weeks as saying he deserved to take the honour as he had been the standout talent over the last 12 months.

However, the 23-year-old insists he never made the attributed statement and admits he feels privileged to be held in such high regard.

Respect

"I never said that I was the best player in the world," he said. "I always said that I was well-placed to win the Ballon d'Or.

"I have always had a lot of respect for the other players.

"It is not necessary to say who is the best player in the world, but who has an advantage, and I was carried along by this hope.

"All the players nominated had the possibility of winning this prize.

"Me, I have had this possibility and this privilege, but all the nominees had the qualities to win the award."

Ambitious

Ronaldo was consistently linked with a big-money move to Spanish giants Real Madrid over the summer, before eventually deciding to stay in England.

He now insists that Old Trafford has become his spiritual home and believes there is much more he can achieve with the Red Devils in the future.

"I have played for five years with Manchester United, a club where I feel at home," he added.

"I arrived there very young, and I have won individual and team titles.

"Today I have this individual reward which makes me happy.

"It is the culmination of work which I put in place a long time ago, but I am ambitious.

"It is imperative that I continue to win both individual and team titles."