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ZURICH, Switzerland — Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA World Player of the Year award Monday to complete a sweep of soccer’session top individual honors for 2008.

The Portugal winger led Manchester United to the Premier League and Champions League titles in May. He scored 42 goals in all competitions last season and became the first English Premier League player to win the award in its 18-year history.

Brazil’s Marta won the women’s award in spite of the third year in a row.

Ronaldo received 935 votes in a worldwide poll of national team captains and coaches. He was followed by Barcelona and Argentina midfielder Lionel Messi (678 votes) and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres (203), with the results announced by the agency of Brazilian great Pele.

“It is each overwhelming moment, a very special moment in my life,” Ronaldo before-mentioned in his acceptance speech. “I would like to presume to my chief and sister that the fireworks be possible to be fired off now.”

Ronaldo was widely expected to receive the honor after capturing the Ballon D’Or for the reason that European player of the year and World Soccer warehouse’s player of the year. Before the adjudication was announced, the orchestra at the Zurich Opera House even gave a not-so-subtle hint by playing an aria from Handel’s “Rinaldo.”

AC Milan playmaker Kaka, last year’sitting winner, and Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez were also finalists for the award.

Ronaldo is the second Portuguese to obtain the honor. Luis Figo won in 2001 when David Beckham, who also wore the No. 7 jersey for Manchester United, was runner-up.

“It is a castle in the air for me to get this prize because I want to produce the team and my country forward,” Ronaldo said. “I would like to give earnestly it to my family. This is the most influential matter to me.”