Man Utd Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo caps successful return with award
Robin Bairner
- 4 Jun 2022 12:15 BST
- 3 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named Manchester United Player of the Year for the 2021/22 season.
The award caps a successful return to Old Trafford for the Portugal international star, who moved back to the Red Devils last August following 12 years away from the club at Real Madrid and Juventus.
READ MORE: The world's most valuable footballers revealed
Ronaldo matches another record
While there were doubts whether the 37-year-old might be able to rekindle the magic that saw him capture five Ballon d’Or trophies during his illustrious career, Ronaldo produced an excellent campaign on a personal basis to score 24 goals in 39 appearances, with 18 of his strikes coming in the Premier League and six in the Champions League.
Ronaldo’s Player of the Year crown marks the fourth time he has won the award, having previously claimed it in 2003/04, 2006/07 and 2007/08. It means that he has picked up the trophy, which was voted on by supporters around the world, for a record-equalling fourth occasion.
Related articles
David de Gea is the other player to have picked up the coveted gong on so many occasions, and the goalkeeper was another front runner for the prize this term. Indeed, the Spain international, who won the Players’ Player of the Year prize, came second in the running for this award but was ‘convincingly’ beaten by Ronaldo.
Despite his personal success, it was a tough year for Manchester United as a club as they finished sixth in the Premier League and posted a host of disappointing statistics.
This had led to the suggestion that Ronaldo could leave to a club that will challenge for the Champions League next season, but he broke his silence on this subject on Friday to deny such rumours.
“I was and still am very happy to be here,” he told the club.
Manchester United can, therefore, look forward to having Player of the Year Ronaldo in their ranks again for next season.
