ZURICH (AP) – Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA Player of the Year award for the second straight year today and third time overall.
The Portuguese forward, who led Real Madrid to their record tenth European title, received 37.66 per cent of votes of national team coaches and captains and selected media to add to the FIFA awards he won in 2008 and 2013.
Ronaldo scored 61 goals last year for club and country, and set a Champions League season record with 17.
“I want to become one of the greatest players of all time,” he said through a translator in his acceptance speech. “Of course, this requires a lot of effort and I hope to get there.”
Lionel Messi, the Argentine star forward on Barcelona, was second in voting with 15.76 per cent, just ahead of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (15.72), who helped Germany to the World Cup title.
On hearing his name read out by French great Thierry Henry, the 29-year-old Ronaldo closed his eyes, dipped his head and smiled before walking to the stage.
“It has been an unforgettable year,” Ronaldo said after taking a deep breath.
Messi won the award four straight times from 2009-12. While Messi’s Argentina lost in the World Cup final, Ronaldo’s Portugal were eliminated in the first round.
The FIFA men’s award merged in 2010 with France Football’s Golden Ball, given to the European player of the year.
German midfielder Nadine Kessler won the Women’s Player of the Year for the first time, getting 17.52 per cent to beat out Brazilian forward Marta (14.16) and American forward Abby Wambach (13.33). Marta was a five-time winner from 2006-10 and Wambach won in 2012.
Joachim Loew was voted men’s Coach of the Year after leading Germany to the World Cup title, and Wolfsburg’s Ralf Kellermann was picked as women’s Coach of the Year
FIFPro World XI 2014:
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich/Germany), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich/Germany), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain/Brazil), David Luiz (Chelsea/Paris Saint-Germain/Brazil), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid/Spain), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid/Manchester United/Argentina), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich/Real Madrid/Germany), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich/Netherlands).
