Cristiano Ronaldo beats Manuel Neuer and Lionel Messi to win Fifa Ballon d'Or

Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2014 Fifa Ballon
d'Or ahead of Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Barcelona
forward Lionel Messi , scooping up the prestigious individual award for
the third time in his career.
Ronaldo enjoyed a hugely successful 2014, in which he guided Madrid
to Champions League glory by netting a record 17 goals in one
campaign, and earned 37.66 per cent of the votes.
Additionally, the prolific attacker played an integral part in the
Santiago Bernabeu side's Copa del Rey win by netting three goals in
six appearances, even if he missed the final against Barcelona due to
injury.
On an individual level, the 29-year-old won the Liga top scorer award
by scoring 31 goals in 30 appearances, which also saw him crowned
joint-winner of the European Golden Shoe together with Luis Suarez.
Ronaldo becomes the seventh player in history to successfully defend
his Ballon d'Or title after Johan Cruyff, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz
Rummenigge, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten and Messi.
The Portugal international was first voted the world's best in 2008,
when he pipped Messi and Fernando Torres to the coveted trophy. He
then had to settle for second spot in 2009, 2011 and 2012 before
winning the award a second time in 2013, this time ahead of Messi
and Franck Ribery.
The former Manchester United star has moved level with Cruyff, Platini
and Van Basten on three wins, with only Messi ahead of him on four
Ballon d'Or trophies.
"I want to thank my mother, my family. I would like to thank all those
who voted for me, my coach, my fellow players, the president of the
club," Ronaldo commented while collecting the award.
"It has been an unforgettable year. To win this trophy, a trophy of this
kind, is something unique, and like I say, I want to continue working
as I have so far, trying to go on and win more titles both individually
and as a team, for my mother, for my father who is up there looking at
me, my son, and to become better.
"I would like to say to the Portuguese: I never thought I would win this
trophy on three separate occasions. Of course it is something that is
always with me - I want to become one of the greatest players of all
time and I hope to get there. I want to thank you all," concluded the
Madrid star before leaving the stage with a loud roar.
Messi, meanwhile, made it to the podium for the seventh time in
succession after he was crowned all-time top goalscorer of La Liga
and the Champions League in 2014, and amassed 15.76% of the final
vote.
Neuer missed out on the chance to become the first goalkeeper to win
the award since Lev Yashin in 1963 after guiding Germany to World
Cup glory and winning the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal with
Bayern. He earned 15.72% of the vote.
Real Madrid ’s super star , Cristiano Ronaldo, won the 2014 FIFA
World Player of the Year award on Monday.
His Monday’s triumph made it the third time the Portugal captain
has won the prestigious individual award .
Ronaldo received 37 .66 per cent of all votes ahead of Barcelona
super star , Lionel Messi (15 .76 percent ) , and Bayern Munich’ s
Manuel Neuer ( 15.72 per cent .)
He also won the award in 2013 .
Nadine Kessler of Germany carted home the Women’s World
Player of the Year award .
Kessler’s compatriot, Joachim Loew , won the Men’ s Coach of the
Year gong, while Colombia and Real Madrid’s star , James
Rodriguez, secured the Ferenck Puskas award for the best goal
for 2014.