The 19-year-old won the prestigious award after a poll of 38,000 of his fellow professionals across the globe.

Rooney scored 17 goals for Manchester United in all competitions last season and also starred for the Three Lions in World Cup qualifiers.

He was delighted to accept the award at a plush ceremony in London last night, with Brazilian Ronaldinho named as the senior World Player of the Year.

Rooney said: "It's a great honour and I would like to thank all the players who voted for me. My teammates have been fantastic since I moved to Manchester United and I'm always trying to get better as a player.

"This award has come from the people who have supported me and been around me for the last few years, so they deserve as much credit as I have got. I love playing football, I enjoy it and I want to win every game. I hope I am here next year."

Former England midfielder Steve McManaman led the tributes to Rooney - hailing the striker as a "wonderful player".

He said: "As a fellow Scouser I think he's a wonderful and he is only going to become better. There have been questions about his temperament but as far as I'm concerned his temperament is fine. There is not a problem."

Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp also praised Rooney and tipped him to be a star at next year's World Cup in Germany.

He said: "He is a special talent and a fantastic footballer. We are very lucky he is English. Let's get behind him because he is going be a fantastic player for us at the World Cup. I have no doubts about him, he is a top, top player."

The Three Lions striker has already found the net three times this season for United and helped them to third in the Premiership. And he revealed his delight at Manchester United's undefeated start to the campaign.

He said: "We have had a decent start to the season and we have had some tough away games. We are still undefeated and we hope that it continues."