Photos: Cristiano Ronaldo Named World Footballer Of The Year

 

Cristiano Ronaldo is World Soccer’s World Player of the year for the second time. The Portuguese star finished ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich in the annual poll to win FIFA Ballon D'or of the year 2013.

The winner in 2008, he was runner-up to Messi when the Argentinian won his third World Player title last year.
But the tables have been turned and Ronaldo was the clear winner this time.

The award is a recognition of Ronaldo’s stunning form for Real Madrid over the last 12 months, as well as his starring role in Portugal’s World Cup qualification.

In November, he scored all four goals in his country’s play-off victory. Paris Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose Sweden side were defeated by Portugal in those games, finished fourth in the poll.

Arjen Robben, scorer of the winning goal in Bayern Munich’s Champions League Final victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley last May, was fifth and Neymar, the star of Brazil’s success in last summer’s Confederations Cup, finished sixth

 Members of the panel chose their top 10 players of the year, with points (ranging from one to 10) awarded to each selection.

 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid & Portugal) 1075

2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina) 926

Ronaldo and girlfriend

3 Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich & France) 870

4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain & Sweden) 658

5 Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich & Holland) 324

6 Neymar (Santos/Barcelona & Brazil) 286

Messi and girlfriend

7 Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich & Germany) 255

8 Robin Van Persie (Manchester United & Holland) 251

9 Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund & Poland) 250

10 Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur/Real Madrid & Wales) 187