A FINANCE worker thinks dropping Cristiano Ronaldo from his side cost him the top prize in The Daily Mail’s online fantasy football competition.

Paul Prior, 24 (pictured), who works at Northern Trust, won £7,000 for finishing second. His total of 638 points left him two behind the winner, who scooped £25,000.

‘For one goal you get three points so I was one goal away from winning it,’ he said.

‘Taking Ronaldo out of my team about two months ago was a big mistake and probably cost me the win.’

Mr Prior, a ‘massive’ Leeds United fan who played football for Rangers and North, was taking part in the competition for the first time. ‘I like to think that I’m pretty good with my football knowledge and it’s something I’ll be doing a lot more of in future,’ he said. ‘I’m out to break the bank next time by winning the big one.’

Mr Prior returned to Guernsey nine months ago after travelling in Australia and Thailand.