vivaronaldo.com

In just over three weeks time, the announcement of European Footballer of the Year will be made, with Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barça’s Lionel Messi the front-runners competing for the prestigious Ballon D’Or prize.

Also in the running are Iker Casillas, Xavi and Fernando Torres, but the real battle for supremacy in being waged by the United and Blaugrana front-men.

Messi has claimed that either Xavi or Sergio Kun Aguero should take the award from the 30-man shortlist, while Ronaldo has plumped for himself as the most deserving nominee.

Now, Barcelona’s French forward Thierry Henry has thrown his support behind his 21-year-old club colleague for the honour and hailed him as the ‘best’ player on the continent, and indeed, in the world.

The former Arsenal captain, who finished third in the Ballon D’Or pecking order in 2006 behind Italian duo Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluigi Buffon, told the press: “Messi is the best. What he does is from another world.

“He is exceptional.

“After watching Arsenal against Manchester United, I insist Cristiano Ronaldo is one thing and Messi is another.

“There is no comparison. Messi deserves to win the Ballon d’Or this year.”

According to British paper The Mirror, Cristiano Ronaldo could be set to become the Premier League’s highest earner as his agent Jorge Mendes seeks to secure a mega bucks salary worth £170,000 per week.

The deal comes just months after unashamedly courting Real Madrid’s calls over the summer, but Manchester United are eager to keep hold of one of their star assets and will be keen to tie the Portuguese international down on a fresh long-term deal.

Ronaldo’s last contract was signed in April 2007 and saw him receive £120,000 per week, so any new deal could be worth up to £50,000 a week more.

Should Cristiano sign a £170,000 a week deal, then he could afford such luxuries as this at least once every seven days:
1, A two bedroom apartment in Manchester.
2, One ‘Virgin’ flight into space.
3, Two brand new Aston Martin Vantage cars.
4, 1,700 Rolex watches.
5, A small wooded island off the coast of Canada.
6, 1,113 bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal champagne.