Cristiano Ronaldo wins his third Ballon d’Or

Cristiano Ronaldo once again hit the summit of world football after being awarded the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2014 at the FIFA gala that took place in Zurich. The Portuguese Real Madrid man beat Lionel Messi, of FC Barcelona, and Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer.

The Portuguese international, who shines every week in the Liga BBVA with Real Madrid, has for yet another year been the leader of los blancos on the pitch. His qualities as a player were once again demonstrated last season, again earning him one of the most prestigious individual prizes awarded by the Fedération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and making him the best player in the world.

His winning mentality again saw him lead the way in all manner of statistics in the different competitions he played in last season. With 31 goals in 30 Liga BBVA matches, figures that earned him the Golden Shoe award along with Luis Suárez, Ronaldo once more proved his credentials as a unique goalscorer capable of hitting the net in all circumstances. However, his standout achievement came in the final of the UEFA Champions League, where Real Madrid claimed a much-awaited tenth European crown. In UEFA’s premier club competition, the man from Madeira scored 17 goals in 11 games, a record for a player in a single season.

Finally, Cristiano made his mark in the Copa del Rey – a trophy he again conquered with los blancos after beating FC Barcelona in the final – scoring three times in six appearances, showing once again that he is a man for all competitions. His year closed out in terrific fashion, as Real Madrid secured the UEFA Super Cup at the beginning of the season and in December lifted the FIFA Club World Cup. Although Portugal’s 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign did not go as hoped, the Madrid player remains a key man for his national side.   

Monday’s Ballon d’Or win is the third of his career as a footballer, having scooped the accolade in 2008 – as a Manchester United FC player – and in 2013. The award takes its place in his trophy cabinet alongside the FIFA World Player of the Year prize and the 2011 and 2014 Golden Shoes.