RONALDO BAGS BALLON D’OR
With a tear in his eye, Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo picked up the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or award for a third time in his career after being named the world's best footballer at a ceremony in Zurich.
Ronaldo, who’s piped eternal rival Lionel Messi to the award for a second consecutive time, received 470 votes, 116 ahead of Barcelona forward Messi and leaving Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller in third with 159 votes.
After picking up the award, an emotional Ronaldo, who was previously honoured in 2008 & 2013, said:
"I have no words to describe this moment. Thanks to all of my team-mates at Real Madrid and the national team.
"Without all of their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, as it is extremely difficult to win this award.
"Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level I have to thank. My partner, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment."
The manager’s equivalent to the award was handed to the 2014 Brazil World Cup winner Joachim Löw, followed by Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Hakan Çalhano?lu, often referred to as the new Mesut Özil, was the shock winner of the European Golden Boy award, scoring 13 in 18 appearances so far this season for his new club, as he helped keep Hamburg afloat in the Bundesliga last season.
Ronaldo’s teammate Karim Benzema also picked up an award, presented to him by UEFA President Michel Platini, as France Football regarded him as the French Player of the Year.
Elsewhere, Manchester City’s Yaya Toure took the African Player of the Year award, as well as the Broadcaster’s African Footballer of the Year award, meanwhile Kagawa took the gong for Asian Player of the Year.
Ronaldo, Messi and Gareth Bale were all included in the FIFPRO team of the year, which surprisingly didn’t include third placed Müller.
FIFPRO team of the Year: Manuel Neuer
(Bayern Munich); Daley Blind
(Manchester United), Raphael Varane
(Real Madrid), Mats Hummels
(Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm
(Bayern Munich); Christian Eriksen
(Tottenham Hotspur), Bastian Schweinsteiger
(Bayern Munich); Cristiano Ronaldo
(Real Madrid), James Rodriguez
(Real Madrid), Gareth Bale
(Real Madrid); Lionel Messi
(Barcelona)