Ronaldo on the hunt for gongs

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo claims it would be "logical" for him to win the European Footballer of the Year award.

Ronaldo was runner-up to AC Milan's Kaka last year but is favourite to go one better this time around after scoring 42 goals for United last season on their way to Champions League and Premier League title glory.

The Portugal winger picked up the FIFPro World Footballer of the Year award earlier this week — the first in what is expected to be a host of individual honours for the 23-year-old — and he is confident he will be lifting the Ballon d'Or later this year.

"You could consider it logical and that's pretty much my opinion," Ronaldo told French sports daily L'Equipe. "But it's not me who votes.

"There are several candidates, but the person who has to win is he who was the best during the whole year.

"I was very consistent, I was a Premier League winner, I won the Champions League, I was the best European goalscorer, the best goalscorer in the Champions League."

Ronaldo also lifted the PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year awards in a spectacular season for United, and could end the year by adding the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards to his trophy haul.

And he claims he is unconcerned by his rivals for the titles.

"I only think about me, about my progression," continued Ronaldo, "I don't worry about possible rivals.

"Everything I did, I did well, I succeeded in having an extraordinary season."

Ronaldo was the subject of one of the summer's biggest transfer sagas as Real Madrid relentlessly pursued him, with the former Sporting Lisbon ace doing little to eradicate speculation he was set for a move to the Primera Liga.

He refused to talk about Madrid, but insists he is happy at United.

"I have my mind completely on the club," said Ronaldo. "I am happy there. At the moment my aim is to get back to top form as quickly as possible and win as many trophies as last season."

Ronaldo has only been back in action for a month after deciding to undergo surgery on a troublesome ankle injury, which United claimed was news to them.

However, the winger — who has already netted four goals since his return — insists the surgery which sidelined him for three months was necessary.

"I was already injured at the end of the season and I wasn't completely aware of the seriousness of my injury," he added. "At Euro 2008, it felt very painful, I tried to do the best.

"At the beginning of matches, the pain was bearable, but after 20 or 30 minutes, my foot kept really swelling.