LONDON (AP)

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted the world's best player in a survey of 32,000 fans from 185 countries.

The results of the Barclays Global Fans Report were announced yesterday, three days before the Portugal winger is expected to be named FIFA world player of the year.

Ronaldo captured 35 per cent of fans' votes after scoring 42 goals last season to lead the Red Devils to European and English titles in May.

Ronaldo has had a slower start to this season with 10 goals so far, just half the tally at this point last January, although he missed the first month of the season while recovering from ankle surgery.

Going into Sunday's match against title rival Chelsea, he hasn't scored in the Premier League since opening the scoring in a 5-0 victory over Stoke on November 15.

In the Global Fans Report, Ronaldo was ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who received 17 per cent of the votes and is also in contention for football's most prized individual award Monday.

Liverpool duo Steven Gerrard (10 per cent) and Fernando Torres (nine per cent) trailed them in the survey.