Proving his essence in the world soccer today, Portuguese and Real Madrid starlet Cristiano Ronaldo won this year’s Ballon d’Or defeating both Barcelona’s Messi and Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery. The famous and one of most recognized awards in soccer fraternity is decided through voting of eminent personalities, like national coaches, captains, and journalists and this year; they voted in favor of Real’s stone. Messi, who has been the winner in last four consecutive years, has to pay the price of his injuries and persisting bad form this season, otherwise he was broadly the best candidate to defend his title. As far quantum of voting that went in Portuguese favor is concerned, he edged to Messi by almost 160 points and from Ribery by 238 points. Actually, Ronaldo’s finest display in last few months worked in his favor along with FIFA’s changed rules that allowed eligible to vote in extended period of time as well; it helped him to win the confidence of mass media. However, if we look at Ronaldo’s 2013 scorecard, he scored 66 goals in 56 played games in one calendar year while his last few months’ feat has been the main contributor that includes his brilliant hat trick off late.
The 28-year-old Portuguese national soccer team captain cried when took the trophy in a grand ceremony. He said thereafter, “First of all, I have to say a great thanks to all of my team-mates with the club and the national team,” Ronaldo said as he cried during his speech. “Without all of their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, it is very difficult to win this award.
“Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level, I have to thank. My wife, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved.”
Other takers in the ceremony were Germany women team’s goalkeeper Nadine Angerer who won women’s player of the year award and Jupp Heynckes who won another prestigious coach of the year award. Similarly, Silvia Neid, German national manager, won the women’s coach award in front of the world media. Besides, Pele, the all-time Brazilian great, won the Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur for his lifetime contribution to the game, he said after that “I promised to my family that I would not cry but I am emotional. I got so many trophies and prizes but I was jealous of all of those guys who got the Ballon d’Or, which I couldn’t get because I didn’t play in Europe. Now I thank God that I can complete my trophies at home.”