Cristiano Ronaldo wins 2013 Ballon d'Or

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 had been the overwhelming favourite to pip Barcelona and Argentina star Messi, winner the previous four years, and France`s Franck Ribery, who won the treble with Bayern Munich in 2013.

Ronaldo edged Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina), who had won all three Ballon d'Or Awards since its merger with the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2009, and Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/France) to win the marquee individual honor.

Lionel Messi says Cristiano Ronaldo is a worthy winner of the 2013 Fifa Ballon d'Or after he finished runner-up to the Portugal star at Monday's gala in Zurich.

VIDEO: Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick breaks boy's wrist.

Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a signed shirt to an 11-year-old boy whose wrist he broke with his trademark free kick.

AFC Bournemouth took on the Spanish giants in a pre-season friendly at the Goldsands Stadium on Saturday.

The match attracted thousands of fans. Real Madrid got their pre-season campaign under way with an easy 6-0 victory over Bournemouth in England, with the Portuguese scoring twice.

"It was Ronaldo's first free kick of the game. It went straight for me so I blocked the ball with the palm of my left hand and the force, I suppose, reverberated up my arm and broke my wrist," Charlie Silverwood said.

"Real Madrid is a once in a lifetime opportunity - seeing them play your local club - so I watched the rest of the match, mostly in pain considering I still had the sling, and afterwards I then went to hospital.

"If I hadn't blocked it with the palm of my hand I would have no front teeth. It definitely had to be some speed otherwise it wouldn't have broken my wrist - 45 mph would be a safe guess I think."

Since the incident, he has been visited by Bournemouth legend Steven Fletcher, who brought him the signed Real Madrid shirt.

Charlie said the president of Real Madrid had also phoned to tell him a signed Ronaldo shirt was on the way.