Cristiano Ronaldo has been named FIFA's 2014 Ballon d'Or winner, beating Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer to football's most coveted individual prize.
This is Ronaldo's second consecutive Ballon d'Or victory and his third overall, as he previously won the accolade during his Manchester United days in 2008. He is now one behind Messi's record of four heading into a year in which Madrid and Barcelona are expected to do battle for La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey trophies. Despite Messi's record-breaking 2014, in which he surpassed Telmo Zarra and Raul as the top all-time goalscorer in La Liga and the Champions League, respectively, it is Ronaldo who came out on top at Monday's gala. Both Ronaldo's tremendous individual form and Madrid's team success persuaded the assortment of voters—made up of national coaches, captains and members of the global media—to hand CR7 another crown to cherish.
