by Niraj Prabhu
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes it is a straight fight between Reds striker Fernando Torres and Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo for the Ballon D'Or.
Spain international Torres scored 33 goals during his debut season in England following a move to Anfield in 2007 summer from Atletico Madrid. The 24-year-old also played an important role in La Furia Roja’s Euro 2008 triumph as he netted the winning goal in the final.
On the other hand, Portuguese ace Ronaldo excelled last season netting a whopping 42 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils as he helped Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to the Premiership and Champions League grand double. The 23-year-old, however, was lacklustre for his country at the European championship scoring just one goal as then Luiz Felipe Scolari's side crashed out in the quarter-finals. But he is considered as a clear favourite for the Ballon D'Or.
Apart from Torres, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is also nominated for the European Footballer of the Year accolade awarded by the Football France magazine. And Benitez added that the England midfielder deserves his place in the 30-man nominees list.
Benitez is quoted as saying on the club’s official website: "It's fair that Torres and Gerrard are there because both players have been really good - in Gerrard's case for years, and Fernando was amazing last season. Both deserve to be there.
"Torres scored a lot of goals in his first season in the Premier League and after that scored the winner in the final of Euro 2008.
"Clearly Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi from Spain can be there. But for me it's between Ronaldo and Torres this season.
"I think the winner will come from the Premier League."
The only serving Reds player to have won the Ballon D'Or till date has been Michael Owen when he bagged the award in 2002.
refer : http://www.premiershiplatest.com
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