Ronaldo: His career in photos

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Cristiano Ronaldo has won football's prestigious Ballon d'Or Award - given to Europe's top player according to a panel of journalists.

The award came as no surprise to many after he was a crucial part of the Manchester United team which won both the Premier League and European Champions League titles earlier this year.

The award, among many others, serves to highlight his very impressive career at the age of just 23.

He was signed to Manchester United in 2003, and has also been a part of the Portugal team since 2003.

Ronaldo then asserted himself on the international stage with good performances during the 2004 European Championships.

He was named in the tournament team, despite scoring only two goals.

See a photo gallery of Ronaldo's career »

But, despite all of Ronaldo's achievements on the field there are still many who question his ability, or dislike his style.

Tell us what you think of Cristiano Ronaldo and whether you think he deserved the Ballon d'Or Award in the Sound Off box below.