Ronaldo's brilliant form for the Red Devils this term has already seen him emerge as favourite for both the PFA and the Football Writers' Player of the Year awards.

However, Ferdinand, who featured alongside Ronaldo yesterday as United maintained their six-point Premiership lead over Chelsea, does not believe the accolades should end there.

"Cristiano has certainly been the best player in Europe," Ferdinand told Inside United.

"There is no doubt in my mind he will win both domestic awards, but I think he will clean up on the awards front - including the European prizes.

"No-one has produced the kind of football he has produced on a regular basis and there is no other player as exciting as him.

"Ronaldinho hasn't done it and Samuel Eto'o has been injured a lot.

"Didier Drogba has been very good for Chelsea but I don't think he gets you off your seat like Cristiano does and I don't think as many people would pay to watch him."

Ferdinand accepts Ronaldo faced a major test of character when he returned from the World Cup this season after suffering so much adverse publicity for his part in the demise of Sven-Goran Eriksson's team and his well-publicised reaction to Wayne Rooney's dismissal.

"He went through a lot last summer after the World Cup," said Ferdinand.

"When difficult circumstances arise you are able to gauge a person's personality and see how they react.

"The best players respond in adverse situations by putting in good performances and that is what Cristiano has done.

"The fact he has come back and performed to a consistently high level throughout the season demands a lot of respect and all the plaudits that have been showered on him are well deserved."

With Louis Saha still missing and Wayne Rooney without a Champions League goal since September 2004, United will be looking for Ronaldo to lead their attack in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against AS Roma in the Italian capital on Wednesday.

And Ferdinand is confident the brilliant 22-year-old will not let the Red Devils down.

"Not only has Cristiano scored goals this season, he has added so much more to his game," he said.

"When you look back at the winner he scored at Fulham earlier this season it was like Roy of the Rovers stuff.

"It just showed his will to win, the character and the physical attributes he possesses."