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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Cristiano Ronaldo Wins 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or

After a 5-year wait that boarded between being so close and being too far, Portuguese and Real Madrid gem Cristiano Ronaldo has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the second time in his career.

And who better to beat to the world of football’s highest individual accolade than the man who sat on that throne not for one, two or three but four years; Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo, who had a goal fest in 2013 finding the back of the net 66 times in only 59 appearances for club and country was announced the winner at a gala evening in Zurich. The 28-year-old garnered 1,365 points to finish above Lionel Messi and French winger Franck Ribery who received 1,205 and 1,127 points respectively.

A teary Ronaldo thanked his teammates and his family saying, “Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level, I have to thank. My wife, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved."

His win ended Messi’s 4-year reign as the world’s best player and he becomes only the 10th player to win the award in more than one occasion. 

Other awards on the night saw Pele collect the first ever Ballon d’Or prix for recognition for his outstanding work during days when the award was given only to European players. Former Bayern Munich coach, Jupp Heynckes was presented with the coach of the year award for leading Bayern to unprecedented treble winning season where they swept all in front of them including the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic won the Ferenc Puskas award for his outstanding overhead kick against England while German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer collected the Women’s World Player of the Year award.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

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