Monday 13 January 2014
Finally, Cristiano Ronaldo ended the four-year dominance of Lionel Messi when he was awarded the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or in Zurich on Monday.
The tearful 28-year-old Real Madrid and Portugal star, who won the award in 2008, had been the overwhelming favourite to pip Barcelona and Argentina wonder Messi, winner the previous four years, and France’s Franck Ribery, who claimed the treble with Bayern Munich in 2013.
Ronaldo won with 27.99% of the votes ahead of Messi (24.72%) while Ribery was third (23.36%) according to France Football, co-organisers of the award with FIFA.
“There are no words to describe how I feel,” said Ronaldo.
“I’m delighted, I want to thank all my team-mates, all my family in the room.
“Those who know me know how many sacrifices I made to win this reward.
“I want to thank all those who had faith in me and I want to speak again about (recently deceased Portugal legend) Eusebio and (recently deceased former South Africa president) Madiba (Nelson Mandela) and to pay tribute to them one last time.”
“Without doubt I deserved this, Messi and Ribery would have also deserved it.
“Each time is different. But I would say that this second Ballon d’Or is more emotional, because my mother and my son (who joined him on stage) are here.”
Real president Florentino Perez paid tribute to Ronaldo.
“The only thing I wish to say is that this Ballon d’Or is justified to be for Cristiano Ronaldo, it is recognition of hard work, talent, and a desire to win daily.”
News of Ronaldo’s success filtered through from France Football just moments before the official announcement in Zurich.
C.Ronaldo, who was widely expected to win after news spread on social media earlier in the day that seven members of his family were joining him in Zurich and his club Real were transmitting the award ceremony live on their official television channel in a change to the programmed schedule, broke down in tears on stage during his victory speech.
Ribery, who won the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup with Bayern last season, before adding the European Supercup and Club World Cup before the turn of the year, had been the early front-runner.
