By Ian Palmer
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the soccer player of the year again by FIFA in a gala ceremony held in Switzerland on January 12. It’s the second straight year the Portuguese international winger has won the award known as the Ballon d’Or trophy as he beat out Argentine international forward Lionel Messi of Barcelona and German international goalkeeper Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich. However, Messi still holds the record with four player of the year honors to his name.
The 29-year-old Ronaldo, who plays his club soccer in the Spanish La Liga with Real Madrid, was voted the world’s best in Zurich by a panel of journalists, national team managers, and national team captains from around the world. FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, organizes the balloting and hands out the annual awards. Ronaldo was named on 37.66 per cent of the ballots while Messi garnered 15.76 per cent of the vote and Neuer was close behind at 15.72 per cent. Meanwhile, Nadine Kessler of Germany was named the female World Player of the Year.
Ronaldo, who couldn’t help Portugal get out of the group stage at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, was visibly pleased with the award and told the crowd, “It’s been an unforgettable year. I want to continue working as I have and go on to more titles. I want to become one of the greatest players ever.”
The native of Madeira set a record in the European Champions League last year with 17 goals as he helped Real Madrid win the top club tournament for the first time since back in 2002. He scored in 10 of 11 tournament games and Real beat cross-town rivals and Spanish league champions Atletico Madrid 4-1 after extra time in the final in Lisbon, Portugal. The old Champions League record for goals in a season was 14, which was set by Jose Altafini of Italy’s AC Milan in 1963 and then equaled by Messi in 2012. Messi scored eight goals in the tournament last campaign, but Barcelona was knocked out of the event in the quarterfinal stage by Atletico Madrid.
Bayern Munich keeper Neuer also had an excellent year as he helped lead Germany to the World Cup and allowed just four goals against in seven tournament games. Neuer shutout Argentina in the final as Germany triumphed 1-0 after extra time. Neuer was hoping to become just the second goaltender to win the player of the year award after Lev Yashin of Russia captured it in 1963. The Ballon d’Or award was first awarded in 1956 by France Football Magazine and it merged with FIFA in 2010. FIFA had started its own trophy in 1991. It was the third overall Ballon d’Or award for Ronaldo as he also won it in 2008 as a member of Manchester United as well as last year.
Ronaldo will now be focused on helping Real Madrid win the Spanish league and retain their Champions League title. bet365 lists them 11/4 at to win the Champions League again this season with Barcelona at 11/2 and Bayern Munich the favorites at 5/2.
