John Terry has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world after his Professional Footballers' Association double award nomination.
Terry tackles Ronaldo in the England v Portgual World Cup match
Terry has backed Ronaldo - up for both young player and player of the year - even though his Chelsea club-mate Didier Drogba has also been nominated.
"I could watch United just to watch him. He does things no-one else in the world is doing at the minute," he said.
"He's the best in the world. At his best, not many people can stop him."
Cristiano is the most exciting player in the country at the moment
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor
As well as his skill, Terry said he admired the Portuguese's personality for the way he handled the backlash against him after his team put England out of the World Cup last summer.
"It was understandable after knocking us out of the World Cup, but he has done all his talking on the pitch," said Terry.
Ronaldo's team-mates Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are also nominated for the main award, as is Terry's colleague Drogba, along with Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas.
Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo and Fabregas are also up for the young player award, along with Tottenham's Aaron Lennon, Kevin Doyle of Reading and Manchester City's Micah Richards.
The voting, which takes place among the country's players, has already been completed, with the results to be announced on 22 April.
Striker Drogba has scored 30 goals this season and has helped Chelsea maintain their challenge for a historic Quadruple.
He has already helped Chelsea win the Carling Cup and they are still in the hunt for the Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League.
"Didier has, arguably, been Chelsea's best and most consistent performer this season - no mean achievement when he is playing alongside so many top-class players at Stamford Bridge," said PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor.
He echoed Terry's opinion on Ronaldo, 22, who has scored 21 goals for Manchester United this season.
"Cristiano is the most exciting player in the country at the moment - the quickness of his feet and the skills he possesses make you think, at times, that he is from another planet," added Taylor.
Manchester United are chasing another Treble and are vying for the league title and FA Cup with Chelsea, while the clubs could also meet in the Champions League final.
Midfielders Scholes, 32, and Giggs, 33, have also been influential players for United during the current campaign.
Arsenal have struggled this season but Fabregas, 19, has continued to improve.
Gerrard won the award in 2006 and has had another influential season for Liverpool as he tries to lead the Anfield side to another Champions League success.