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Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is congratulated by FIFA President Sepp Blatter (R) after winning the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 during the soccer awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on 12 January. Ronaldo, who won the award for the second time in a row and third overall, was voted ahead of Argentina forward Lionel Messi and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the annual poll. REUTERS
The Real Madrid forward polled more than double the number of votes as his bitter rival Lionel Messi who only just edged Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into third place.
Joachim Loew won the Coach of the Year of the award after leading Germany to the World Cup title in Brazil, finishing ahead of Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone in the poll.
Colombia’s James Rodriguez won the Puskas award for the best goal, a spectacular volley on the turn for Colombia in their World Cup match against Uruguay. Nadine Kessler of VfL Wolfsburg and Germany won the women’s Player of the Year award.
Ronaldo was forgiven for a disappointing World Cup, with Portugal going out in the first round. Instead, the voters - the coaches and captains of the 209 national teams plus one journalist for each country - were swayed by his prolific goal-scoring and trophy-laden year with Real Madrid, where he has flourished under Ancelotti.
“I never thought that I would bring this trophy back home on three occasions and I want to win it again. I want to become one of the greatest players of all time,” Ronaldo told the audience after a ceremony which lasted nearly two hours.
Ronaldo, who has made a point of displaying his rippling muscles in his goal celebrations, then bellowed “Sim” (yes) into the microphone, somewhat startling the ceremony presenter.
The award has turned almost turned into a personal duel between Ronaldo -- who topped the voting in 2008, 2013 and 2014 -- and Messi.
Messi won four years in a row from 2009 to 2012, with Ronaldo finishing second on three occasions. Only Andres Iniesta, runner-up in 2010, has managed to break the duopoly.
This year’s race had turned into something of a numbers game between Ronaldo and Messi.
Ronaldo netted 51 goals in 47 appearances last season as Real secured a record-extending 10th Champions League title and won the King’s Cup.
