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.
