Soccer-Benitez tips Torres to win Ballon D'Or

By Jeremy Butler

LIVERPOOL, England, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez says fit-again striker Fernando Torres should be named this year's Ballon D'Or winner.

Torres, who scored Spain's winner in the Euro 2008 final and 24 league goals in his debut season in England, trails Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and Barcelona's Lionel Messi among the favourites for the Dec. 2 gong formerly known as the European Player of the Year award.

"Fernando would be my selection," Benitez told a news conference on Monday.

"He has scored a lot of goals and won the Euros with Spain. Ronaldo is also a very good player but I choose Fernando."

Torres should return to the Liverpool starting line-up against his former club Atletico Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League Group D match at Anfield.

He has been out of action for three weeks after picking up a hamstring injury while on international duty.

"He's 70 per cent fit. We have to train tomorrow and I will talk to him," Benitez said.

"He was training, but not a hard training session. He was doing almost everything. It's a decision between him and me.