By Andrew Warshaw
January 14 – There were tears all round and heaps of respect as FIFA’s annual world player of the year award as expected went to Christiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid’s Portuguese star ending arch rival Lionel Messi’s four-year stranglehold on the prestigious prize.
With millions of television viewers watching the glittering Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich, Ronaldo was totally overcome with emotion as he thanked his club and family for supporting him as he clinched the prize ahead of Messi and France’s Franck Ribery.
“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,” said the former Manchester United star who last won in 2008. “All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved.”
Ronaldo was a virtual goal machine last year, scoring 66 in 56 games in 2013 for club and country. His high point was a stunning hat-trick that helped Portugal edge past Sweden in the World Cup playoffs and into the finals in Brazil.
Messi, who has had a more troubled year than usual on and off the pitch – hampered by injury and being embroiled in tax evasion allegations – finished second in the poll, with Ribery, who had already picked up UEFA’s award for the best player in Europe, third.
It was one of the closest ballots in the history of the event, Ronaldo gaining 1,365 points, his Barcelona nemesis Messi 1,205 and Ribery 1,127. Votes were open to the captains and coaches of FIFA’s 209 national teams (though for some reason only 184 took part) plus 173 selected media representatives.
Germany’s brilliant goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, who saved two penalties in her country’s 1-0 win over Norway in the 2013 European Championship final, took the women’s player of the year award.
“I have to say that I’m a little surprised, but very thankful,” she said. “You never get a success like this on your own. I have to thank my team-mates and my goalkeeping coach who raised me to a level that I never thought I’d get to.”
Jupp Heynckes, now retired, won best men’s coach after taking Bayern Munich to an unprecedented Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble. German national boss Silvia Neid won the equivalent women’s honour.
The annual Fair Play award went to Afghanistan’s national FA which, in a country ravaged by conflict, hosted their first home international for 10 years back in August, a symbolic and emotional friendly against Pakistan.
It emerged after Monday’s star-studded ceremony, despite all the courtesies and back-slapping, that neither Ronaldo or Messi voted for each other.
Ronaldo went for Radamel Falcao for first place, followed by Gareth Bale and Mesut Ozil, while Messi opted for three of his Barcelona team-mates in Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Neymar.
FIFA also honoured a tearful Pele with a special Prix d’Honneur during the glittering awards show which was broadcast live to 180 countries.
“I promised to my family that I would not cry but I am emotional,” said Pele. “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.”
Full prize list:
• Ballon d’Or: Cristiano Ronaldo
• Women’s world player: Nadine Angerer
• Male coach: Jupp Heynckes
• Female coach: Silvia Neid
• Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur: Pele
• Puskas goal award: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden v England)
• FIFA Presidential Award: Jacques Rogge
• Fair Play Award: Afghanistan Football Federation
FIFA/FIFPro Team of the Year: Manuel Neuer (Bayern, Ger), Philipp Lahm (Bayern, Ger), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid, Sp), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain, Brz), Dani Alves (Barcelona, Brz), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Sp) Xavi (Barcelona, Sp), Franck Ribery (Bayern, Ger), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Arg), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain, Swe), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Por).
The FIFA/FIFPro World XI is picked by the members of FIFPro. The players were asked to pick their World XI containing one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards.
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