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.

Ribery named European player of the season

Bayern Munich’s French winger Franck Ribery on Thursday won the award for European player of the 2012/13 season.

The France international becomes the third player to win the award, the two previous winners being Barcelona duo Lionel Messi (2011) and Andres Iniesta (2012).
Ribery won the award this time around ahead of Messi and Real Madrid’s Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 74-time capped Ribery was an essential cog in Bayern’s charge to last season’s historic treble of the Champions League crown, the Bundesliga title and the German Cup.