Cristiano Ronaldo has been crowned the FIFA World Player of the Year for the second time, breaking the stranglehold of his great adversary Lionel Messi.
The Real Madrid superstar saw off competition from Barcelona’s Messi and Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery to claim the coveted Ballon d’Or.
An emotional Ronaldo walked onto the stage to collect his award with his son Cristiano and couldn't hold back the tears as he was presented with the trophy.
VIDEO Scroll down to see a tearful Cristiano Ronaldo collect the Ballon d'Or
No 1: Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or and been named the greatest football player in the world
Emotional: Ronaldo couldn't hold back the tears as he was presented with the Ballon d'Or
Winner: Pele holds up Ronaldo's son Cristiano as the Portuguese star picks up his award
Best dressed: Ronaldo, his son Cristiano and girlfirend Irina Shayk
Unbelievable: Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for Portugal against Sweden to send them to the World Cup
Captain, leader, legend: Without his brilliance it is very unlikely Portugal would have qualified for the World Cup
Respect: Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic after their World Cup play-off
Prolific: He scored 34 goals in La Liga alone last year for Real Madrid
BALLON D'OR WINNERS
2013 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
2012 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
2011 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
2010 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
EUROPEAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
2009 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
2008 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
2007 - Kaka (AC Milan)
2006 - Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus)
2005 - Ronaldinho (Barcelona)
2004 - Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan)
2003 - Pavel Nedved (Juventus)
2002 - Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
2001 - Michael Owen (Liverpool)
2000 - Luis Figo (Real Madrid)
The 28-year-old was honoured after scoring 66 goals in 56 appearances for club and country Portugal in 2013 as he finally reclaimed the trophy he last held in 2008.
Though Ronaldo did not win any major trophies in 2013, he did score all four goals as Portugal beat Sweden in the World Cup play-offs to secure their place in Brazil this summer.
'There are no words to describe this moment,' Ronaldo said, wiping away tears.
'I want to thank all my colleagues and companions at Real Madrid, in the Portuguese team and my family who are here with me.
'Those who know me, know that many people help me: my manager, our President, and i don't want to forget to mention Eusebio. My girlfriend and my son too. I am deeply moved.'
Barcelona President Sandro Rosell congratulated him on Twitter, saying: 'Congratulations Cristiano Ronaldo for winning the Ballon d'Or. And thank you Leo for making 2013 unforgettable.'
Ronaldo also revealed Rio Ferdinand tried to persuade him to rejoin Manchester United in the summer. ‘It was true that Rio spoke to me a lot to try and make me come back to United,’ he said. ‘I did think about United — they are still in my he
Glamorous: Ronaldo with his girlfriend Irina Shayk during the awards ceremony
Waiting game: Ronaldo was on stage before the Ballon d'Or as he was named in the team of the year
Touch of class: Model Adriana Lima added some sparkle to the ceremony
Best of friends: Ronaldo receiving his award for being in the FIFPro team of the year
Famous faces: Pele takes the applause of the audience next to Ruud Gullit and model Fernanda Lima
COMPLETE AWARD LIST
2013 Ballon d'Or: 1 Cristiano Ronaldo; 2 Lionel Messi; 3 Franck Ribery.
Women's world player of the year: 1 Nadine Angerer; 2 Abby Wambach; 3 Marta.
World coach of the year (men's football): 1 Jupp Heynckes; 2 Jurgen Klopp; 3 Sir Alex Ferguson.
World coach of the year (women's football): 1 Silvia Neid; 2 Ralf Kellermann; 3 Pia Sundhage.
Puskas Award: 1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic; 2 Nemanja Matic; 3 Neymar.
FIFPro World XI: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich and Germany); Dani Alves (Barcelona and Brazil), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich and Germany), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid and Spain), Thiago Silva (Paris St Germain and Brazil); Andres Iniesta (Barcelona and Spain), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich and France), Xavi (Barcelona and Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St Germain and Sweden), Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina).
Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur: Pele.
Fair Play Award: Afghanistan Football Federation.
Presidential Award: Jacques Rogge.
In the mixed zone, the Portugal captain was quoted by AS: 'I don't know if it's fair or not. Ribery could have won it as much as me.
I've had a very good season at an individual level. I want to be here again next year and win it again.
'My mum (who was in attendance) cries very easily and when I saw her crying it made me cry as well. I'm an emotional person.'
On his rivalry with Messi, the 28-year-old added: 'I have a very professional relationship with Messi, he's a player I admire.
'I'm happy to compete with the best. I'm going to try win things with Madrid and the national team, and I hope to be here (again next year) and win.'
Messi had held exclusive rights to the award in recent seasons as he became the first player to win the Ballon d'Or four consecutive times.
He too had another memorable year in 2013, but it was not quite enough to see him claim a fifth successive gong and he hailed Ronaldo as a just winner.
'I want to congratulate Cristiano because he was the winner and deservedly so. I think it was a good year for the three of us and that's why we were there.
'I have nothing to complain about or make any excuses,' said the 26-year-old, who again caught the attention at the gala with his fashion choice as he wore a shiny burgundy three-piece suit.
Nominees: The trio of Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery before the ceremony
Flashing smile: Messi was at the event with his girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo
Light-hearted: Messi showed off a very scarlet suit while Ribery was with his wife Wahiba Belhami
Europe's best: Ribery was part of the Bayern side that won the quadruple last season
Top notch: As for Messi, he was La Liga's top scorer with 46 goals last campaign
Bayern Munich were recognised for a record-breaking year as Jupp Heynckes was presented with the Coach of the Year Award ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson and Jurgen Klopp.
Heynckes led Bayern to the Bundesliga title, the German Cup and the Champions League in 2013 before retiring.
‘It is a great honour to win this award today because it is an innovation that someone who has retired should receive such a distinction,’ Heynckes said.
‘It means an awful lot to pick up this award at the end of my career. It is not just down to me but the whole club of Bayern Munich.’
Out at the top: Retired Jupp Heynckes was named Coach of the Year after winning the Champions League
Incomparable: The legendary Pele won an honorary prize at the Gala in Zurich
Master: The Brazilian couldn't keep back the tears when he was on the stage
Hero: Eusebio received a special mention from Ronaldo after he passed away last week aged 71
Record: The Portugal forward scored 41 goals for his national side and over 300 for Benfica
Former Manchester United boss Ferguson did not attend the ceremony as he is on holiday in Barbados.
An emotional Pele was presented with the inaugural Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur.
The Brazilian legend said: ‘I played for almost 30 years and I got so many trophies and prizes but I was jealous because all those guys used to get the Ballon d’Or and I did not play in Europe.
‘Now, thanks to God, I have completed my trophy haul!’
The team of the year featured Manuel Neuer in goal, Philipp Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva and Dani Alves in defence, midfielders Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Ribery with Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Messi in attack.
As for the goal of the year, Ibrahimovic won after scoring his stunning overhead volley against England during a friendly in November 2012.
Stunner: Zlatan Ibrahimovic won the Puskas prize for the best goal of the year for his strike against England
Unreal: His 'propeller' kick was during Sweden's 4-2 friendly win over England in November 2012
Recognised: German keeper Nadine Angerer won the women's Player of the Year award
Duo: Ronaldo and Angerer pose side-by-side after being named the best players in the world
Prize: Angerer was part of the Germany team that won the women's European Championship last year
CRISTIANO RONALDO FACTFILE
Road to success: Cristiano Ronaldo makes his debut for Manchester United in 2003
1985: Born February 5 in Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
2002: Makes his debut for Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Super Liga at the age of 17 after winning international caps for Portugal's youth sides.
2003: August 8 - Completes a £12.24million transfer to United, taking the No 7 shirt following the sale of then England captain David Beckham to Real Madrid. Makes his debut as a second-half substitute eight days later in opening-day 4-0 win over Bolton at Old Trafford.
November 1 - Scores his first goal for United in the 3-0 victory over Portsmouth at Old Trafford.
2004: May 22 - Dazzles in United's 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall.
2004: May 22 - Dazzles in United's 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall.
June 24 - Scores in the shoot-out as Portugal knock England out of the European Championships 6-5 on penalties. Portugal reach final but lose 1-0 to Greece.
2005 October 19 - Arrested and questioned by police after an allegation of rape at a London hotel is made against him. Ronaldo asserts his innocence. No charges are brought.
November 18 - Agrees two-year extension to his United contract, keeping him at the club until 2010.
2006: July 1 - Protests to referee Horacio Elizondo after United team-mate Wayne Rooney clashes with Ricardo Carvalho in the World Cup quarter-final between Portugal and England. Rooney is sent off and television pictures catch Ronaldo winking towards the bench. Scores the winning penalty in the shoot-out to knock out England.
2007: April 13 - Agrees new five-year deal with Red Devils. Ends season by winning the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards and also voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association as United win the Premier League title.
2008: April 27 - Voted PFA Player of the Year for the second year running.
European champion: Ronaldo scored in the Champions League final for United in 2008
May 21 - Heads United in front in Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow. The game goes to penalties and, despite Ronaldo missing his kick, United win the shoot-out. Ends the season with 42 goals.
November 15 - Scores 100th goal for Manchester United with the first of a brace against Stoke.
December 2 - Wins the prestigious Ballon d'Or, convincingly seeing off competition from second-placed Messi and Liverpool's Fernando Torres, in third.
2009: January 12 - Named FIFA World Player of the Year at gala ceremony in Zurich.
May 16 - Helps United win Premier League title with 0-0 draw against Arsenal, but unable to prevent his club losing 2-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome 11 days later.
June 11 - United accept a world-record £80million bid from Real Madrid. The player then signs a six-year contract.
August 29 - Scores first Primera Division goal in his first league game for Real at the Santiago Bernabeu against Deportivo.
December 1 - Finishes second in the voting for the Ballon d'Or to Messi.
December 21 - Again finishes second in the voting to Messi, this time for FIFA World Player of the Year as the Argentinian registers a record points total.
2010: May 5 - Scores his first Madrid hat-trick against Real Mallorca and goes on to finish the season with 33 goals.
2011: April 20 - Scores in the 103rd minute to hand Real victory in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona and finishes the season with 54 goals, 41 of which came in the league, making him the first player in Primera Division history to score 40 goals in a season.
Heading to Spain: He signed for Real Madrid in July 2009 for a world record £80million
November 2 - Scores 100th goal for Real in a 2-0 win over Lyon in the Champions League.
2012: January 9 - Finishes second to Messi in the the voting for the Ballon d'Or.
May 13 - His goal against Mallorca makes him the first player to score against every team in the Primera Division in a single season and he finishes the season with 60 goals, 46 of which come in the league as Real win the title with 100 points.
June 21 - Nets the only goal to send Portugal through to the Euro 2012 semi-finals where they eventually lose to winners Spain. Ronaldo's three goals make him the join top-scorer in the tournament.
August 29 - Claims a third trophy with Real as they win the Spanish Super Cup.
2013: January 7 - Finishes second to Messi once again in the voting for the Ballon d'Or.
May 8 - Scores 200th goal for Real against Malaga in just his 197th game for the club and ends the season with 55 goals, his 12 in the Champions League making him the top-scorer in the competition.
September 15 - Signs new contract in Madrid taking him through to 2018.
October 25 - FIFA president Sepp Blatter gives a speech at the Oxford Union in which he appears to mock Ronaldo, prompting Florentino Perez to write to the governing body. Blatter later apologised.
November 19 - Scores a hat-trick as Portugal beat Sweden 3-2 in a play-off (4-2 on aggregate) to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. Ronaldo had also scored the only goal in the first-leg and moves level with Pauleta as Portugal's all-time top goalscorer.
2014: January 6 - Scores twice against Celta Vigo to move on to 400 career goals.
January 13 - Wins Ballon d'Or with Messi finishing second and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery in third.
January 13 - Wins Ballon d'Or with Messi finishing second and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery in third.
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