Cristiano Ronaldo FIFA Ballon d'Or 2014

Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or on Monday.This award was presented in a ceremony that took place in Zürich. Lionel Messi and Frank Ribery were the other two players shortlisted for this award.The winner was selected by the voting of national team coaches and captains as well as journalists from around the world.

Although the 28-year-old Portuguese failed to claim a major trophy at club level, he has been crowned the world's outstanding footballer over the course of the last 12 months.

With 69 goals in 59 appearances for club and country, 2013 was surely Ronaldo’s year though he failed to win any trophies. This means that finally after four years Messi’s domination in winning this award has come to an end.
Barcelona and Argentina's Lionel Messi has claimed the honour over the past four years but had to make way for his La Liga rival, despite his 43 goals in as many matches last year.


Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, who helped Bayern Munich to win the treble, was the other player in the running but the France international was also to be disappointed.

After picking up the award, a tearful Ronaldo said: "I have to say thank you to all of my team-mates for my club Real Madrid and the national team.

"Without their efforts it wouldn't have been possible. I'm very happy. I have to thank everyone who have been involved with me. It's a tremendously emotional moment."

Now Ronaldo has won this award for the second time. He won it for the first time during his time playing for Manchester United in 2008.

But as Messi missed much of 2013 through injury, Ronaldo took advantage as he helped Real reach the final of the Copa del Rey and the last four of the Champions League before signing a new deal with the capital club and enjoying his best-ever season start under new coach Carlo Ancelotti in the latter months of the year, as well as single-handedly firing Portugal to the World Cup with all four goals in his side's play-off victory against Portugal over two legs in November.

And the 28-year-old, who opened a museum in December in his native Madeira to display his personal collection of trophies, now has another Ballon d'Or to exhibit alongside his 2008 award.

The Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur was awarded to Brazil legend and three-time World Cup winner Pele . "I promised to my family that I would not cry but I am emotional," he said. The Brazilian master was ineligible for the award during his playing career, which at the time was limited to players plying their trade in Europe.

"I got so many trophies and prizes but I was jealous of all of those guys who got the Ballon d'Or, which I couldn't get because I didn't play in Europe. Now I thank God that I can complete my trophies at home."

The Puskas Award for goal of the year went to Zlatan Ibrahimovic for his acrobatic strike for Sweden against England in November 2012.

FIFA inaugurated the world footballer of the year award in 1991 and with world football's governing body amalgamating their award with the Ballon d'or in 2010, the decision was made to honour Pele.

And Nadine Angerer picked up the award for Women's Player of the Year for her part in Germany's 2013 European Championship triumph.

The 35-year-old saved two penalties in the final on July 28 and was named player of the match following her side's 1-0 victory over Norway.




The Ballon d'Or is voted for by national team coaches, national team captains and a selection of journalists from around the world seby France Football magazine and soccer's world governing body.

View the gallery of photos

TO SEE THE GALLEY