YOU'RE STILL THE MAN ... Ronaldo rates Ferdinand as the top choice for England

CRISTIANO RONALDO insists England boss Roy Hodgson dropped a massive clanger by dropping Rio Ferdinand from his Euro 2012 squad.

The Real Madrid and Portugal superstar — a former team-mate of Ferdinand at Manchester United — said: “Rio is the best centre-back in England and still one of the best in the world.

“I don’t understand why he is not in the national team.”

Ferdinand, 33, is the shock omission from the 23-man squad for next month’s tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

Hodgson denies that he ditched the United centre-back over fears he and John Terry could not play together after Ferdinand’s brother Anton accused the Chelsea skipper of racism.

But Ronaldo said: “Maybe the coach has justifications and we have to respect those.

“But I have to be honest, I love Rio.

“He’s a great player, great man and he should be in the national team because he would help England do well... maybe to win the tournament.”