Football FanCast columnist Jim McKendry wonders whether Cristiano Ronaldo will finally break the mould and be the first Premier League star to win the coveted, World Player of the year award.

Thierry Henry's failure to collect the World Player of the year award, during his Arsenal days, must rank as one of the biggest mysteries in football. How a player who use to score 30+ goals every given season, provide countless assists and was simply unplayable at times, never got the recognition by football's governing bodies is a disgrace and highlights once more the lack of appreciation the Premier League receives.

You can bet your bottom dollar that the likes of UEFA are fuming that we as a nation have two English clubs contesting the Champions League final. The Premier League as we know already grates with Michel Platini and this will have him climbing up the walls. Not only does he have to hand over the trophy but the likelihood is that there is no longer an excuse that one of the Premier League players may not only win the European, but the more prestigious World Player of the year as well.

There is no doubting that Cristiano Ronaldo is the outstanding candidate for the award this season. He has simply mesmerised all that has faced him and his record of 41 goals from a winger is simply remarkable. The governing bodies seem to always back the players who win the game's major prizes, whether it is winning the World Cup, Euros or the Champions League. Does Ronaldo's chances of claiming the most celebrated of awards merely rest on beating Chelsea or Portugal having a successful summer?

He will undoubtedly face stiff competition from the likes of Del Piero, Kaka and Fabiano, who has had a fantastic season in Seville but you can't help feel that it would be somewhat of a travesty if the Manchester United winger failed to win the award.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo finally break the mould and be first Premier League recipient of the World Player of the year award? Are there any other outstanding candidates out there? Would Ronaldo's failure to win the award represent one of the biggest injustices in football?

It is the debate "Who deserves to win the World Player of the year award" that will be discussed on the WKD Sports Shed show on Nuts TV, so submit your vote and comment and get your opinion seen by many.

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