Public votes Ronaldo greatest Premiership player ever

REAL MADRID superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted the greatest ever player to play in the Premier League in the UK.

Though the Portuguese playmaker spent only six years at Manchester United, he beat other Premiership greats such as Steven Gerrard, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs and Alan Shearer to top a poll conducted by Usurv for Press Association Sport.

The online poll of 1,000 members of the public revealed that Ronaldo – who turned 30 this week – bagged 24 per cent of the votes to be crowned the greatest ever Premiership player. Frenchman Thierry Henry was voted in second place with 18 per cent of the vote. Making up the top five were Ryan Giggs (13 per cent), Alan Shearer (12 per cent) and Eric Cantona (12 per cent).

Ronaldo was signed to Manchester United as a fresh-faced 18-year-old in 2003 by then manager, Alex Ferguson. During his time at Old Trafford he won three Premier League titles, a Champions League winners’ medal and an FA Cup. He scored 118 goals in 292 appearances for the club.

He moved to Real Madrid in 2009 and his success in Spain has escalated year after year.