Ronaldo's "year" had effectively boiled down to a sensational month at the World Cup, a sparkling debut for his new club Real Madrid and the opening goal in their victory in the World Club Cup.

In many ways the decision to give the Brazilian the award for the third time in his career was a sentimental one, a recognition that after three years of injury-plagued misery the sport had at last recovered one of its most exciting players.

The fairy-tale ending was completed with his stellar performance at the World Cup, firing Brazil to their fifth title with eight goals in seven games, including a magical double in the 2-0 victory against Germany in the final.

This year, however, Ronaldo has starred at Real Madrid over the full 12 months, proving beyond doubt that he is still the most consistently decisive player in world football.

That is why he is standing alongside Real team mate Zinedine Zidane of France and French international striker Thierry Henry of Arsenal as a candidate for the 2003 World Player of the Year award.

DEVASTATING FORM

Ronaldo began the year in devastating form, scoring the crucial goals in the big games against traditionally tough opponents such as Valencia, Celta Vigo, Deportivo Coruna and Barcelona to keep his side in the title race when Real Sociedad looked like running away with the championship.

Appropriately enough it was his expertly taken double in the 3-0 win against Athletic Bilbao that allowed Real to overhaul Sociedad and take the title on the final day of the season.

If it had not been for an injury that kept Ronaldo out of most of the semi-final second leg against Juventus, Real might even have been able to defend their Champions League title against AC Milan.

This season he has continued to terrorise opposition defences, cracking in 12 league goals and four more in the Champions League and Spanish Super Cup to set himself well on the way to reaching his self-imposed target of 35 for the season.

He scored a sublime solo effort after just 15 seconds to set his side on the way to a 2-0 victory in the recent city derby against neighbours Atletico Madrid.

Three days later he helped to ensure Real's first league victory at the Nou Camp in 20 years when he drilled in the all-important second goal in their 2-1 victory over his former club Barcelona.

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In new signing David Beckham, Ronaldo has found the ideal partner with the Englishman's neat through balls and perceptive long passes providing him with the perfect service to showcase his scoring skills.

Team mate Zidane may bring an almost balletic quality to the game with his carefully choreographed movements in midfield, Henry may have the edge in terms of explosive speed but if there is one player who is guaranteed to set the pulse racing every time he gets the ball it is Ronaldo.

THE PHENOMENON

Just ask the Manchester United fans who gave the Brazilian a standing ovation after his stunning hat-trick in Real's 4-3 win in last season's Champions League quarter-final second leg at Old Trafford.

Now 27, the player who was simply known as "the Phenomenon" when he first hit the world stage some nine years ago is still just that.

Ronaldo is heavier -- the less diplomatic might say fatter -- than before his devastating knee injury but as light-footed as ever on the ball and his dizzying stepovers still have the power to leave defenders sprawled helplessly across the grass.

He is now so strong that he can shrug off even the most powerful opponents. Give him a glimpse of goal and he invariably hits the target.

When he sets off on one of his mesmerising goal-bound runs it is almost predestined that the ball will end up in the back of the net.

As the man himself said recently: "I always enjoy myself on the pitch because I know that I can still score goals and win matches even when I'm not playing that well."