Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten off competition from Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery to be crowned the winner of the 2013 Fifa Ballon d'Or. The 28-year-old was named the world player of the year for the second time in his career having also received the honour while at Manchester United in 2008. Ronaldo received 1,365 points as national coaches, captains and journalists voted for their winner, while Barcelona's Messi received 1,205 and Bayern Munich's Ribery 1,127. Messi, 26, had won the Ballon d'Or on the last four previous occasions, however Ronaldo has been viewed as the front-runner this time after enjoying a glorious season with Real Madrid. The Portuguese captain netted an astonishing 55 goals in 55 total appearances in 2012-13, helping his club finish second in La Liga and reach the Champions League semi-finals. Ronaldo also scored a sensational hat-trick for Portugal against Sweden to help his country through to the 2014 World Cup finals last November. The Madrid man said after scooping the gong:
"First of all, I have to say a great thanks to all of my team-mates with the club and the national team. Without all of their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, it is very difficult to win this award. "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."
Also in the glitzy award ceremony in Zurich, Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer was named women's world player of the year and ex-Munich boss Jupp Heynckes male coach of the year. Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic meanwhile won The Puskas Award for his 30-yard overhead kick against England in November 2012. The Fifa award winners in full: 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
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
