A tearful Cristiano Ronaldo picked up the FIFA Ballon d'Or for a second time after being named the world's greatest footballer at a ceremony in Zurich.
The Real Madrid forward scored a staggering 69 goals in 59 matches during 2013 and helped Portugal secure their place in next year's World Cup finals by scoring all four goals in their 4-2 aggregate play-off victory over Sweden.
Ronaldo, who ended Lionel Messi's four-year domination of the honour, polled 1,365 points in the voting, 160 ahead of Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, with Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery third on 1,127.
After picking up the award, an emotional Ronaldo, who was previously honoured in 2008, said: "I have no words to describe this moment. Thanks to all of my team-mates at Real Madrid and the national team.
"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 partner, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment."
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 (to) win things with Madrid and the national team, and I hope to be here again next year and win."
Messi, the only player to win the award on four consecutive occasions, said: "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."
Ribery helped Bayern to an unprecedented treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup, and UEFA president Michel Platini was stunned his compatriot missed out on the award.
Platini, who won the Ballon d'Or three times, said: "I am very disappointed for Franck. Next year we will return and it will be Messi-Ronaldo, in two years time the same and three years time ditto.
"I am disappointed because for 50 years the Ballon d'Or took into account results and trophies on the pitch. Here we are talking about the global value of players and that poses a problem."
But there was some consolation for Bayern when Jupp Heynckes, who led them to their treble success before retiring, was named coach of the year.
Pele's place in football history was also recognised after he won the inaugural Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur award.
The Brazilian master was ineligible for the award during his playing career, which at the time was limited to players plying their trade in Europe.
FIFA inaugurated the world footballer of the year award in 1991 and, with world football's governing body amalgamating their award with the Ballon d'or in 2010, the decision was made to honour Pele.
Nadine Angerer picked up the award for Women's Player of the Year for her part in Germany's 2013 European Championship triumph.
The 35-year-old saved two penalties in the final in July and was named player of the match following her side's 1-0 victory over Norway.
Silvia Neid, the coach of the German national side, was named the women's coach of the year, while the Fair Play award went to the Afghanistan football federation for its work in opening up football to a wider audience.
The Ferenc Puskas award for best goal of the year went to Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the sensational 40-yard bicycle kick he produced in the 4-2 friendly defeat of England in November 2012, a game in which he scored all of Sweden's goals.
AFP
Tue Jan 14 2014
Menteri Indonesia bincang isu pekerja migran dengan rakan sejawat dari Malaysia
Fauziyah harap Steven akan membawa penambahbaikan kepada dasar berkaitan tenaga kerja Indonesia.
Pahang peruntuk RM1.5 juta bantuan tunai bakal jemaah haji
Sebanyak 1,588 jemaah haji Pahang menerima sumbangan 'duit poket' berjumlah RM750 seorang bagi membantu meringankan beban bakal haji dalam melakukan persiapan melaksanakan rukun Islam kelima itu.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Pengundi jangan mudah percaya taktik fitnah - Ramanan
Ramanan berkata pengundi perlu lebih berhati-hati, dan sentiasa menyemak fakta apabila mendengar kempen politik yang dilakukan pihak lawan.
KEDA berhasrat tanam padi wangi, padi huma tahun ini
Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Kedah (KEDA) berhasrat membangunkan tanaman padi wangi dan padi huma di beberapa kawasan pertanian dalam wilayahnya, tahun ini.
Mesyuarat perundingan Enam Pihak Arab bincangkan perkembangan di Gaza
Mesyuarat perundingan Jawatankuasa Enam Pihak Arab itu membincangkan perkembangan serangan Israel ke atas Semenanjung Gaza.
Chegubard didakwa di Mahkamah Sesyen KL esok - Peguam
Badrul Hisham Shaharin atau dikenali Chegubard akan didakwa di Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur esok atas pertuduhan memfitnah dan menghasut.
Pulau Pinang, kerajaan pusat bekerjasama tarik pelaburan semikonduktor
Kerajaan Pulau Pinang akan bekerjasama dengan Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk meneruskan usaha menarik pelaburan dalam sektor semikonduktor, termasuk segmen reka bentuk litar bersepadu (IC) di negeri itu.
Rakyat Malaysia di Jordan jadi duta produk PMKS negara
Menteri Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi Datuk Ewon Benedick menyarankan rakyat Malaysia yang menetap di Jordan supaya memainkan peranan sebagai “duta” untuk mempromosikan produk perusahaan mikro kecil dan sederhana (PMKS) SERTA koperasi negara.
Mohamed Khaled tiba di Indonesia, dijadual bertemu Prabowo
Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin tiba di Jakarta hari ini untuk lawatan kerja rasmi sulung beliau ke Indonesia sejak memegang jawatan itu.
SPRM mohon maklumat dari Jerman
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) memohon maklumat terkini daripada pihak berkuasa Jerman mengenai dana bon 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) yang dipercayai digunakan untuk membeli kereta mewah di negara itu pada 26 Okt 2022.
Ronaldo digantung dua perlawanan kerana berkelakuan ganas
Cristiano Ronaldo digantung dua perlawanan kerana menyiku lawan dan mengancam menyerang pengadil selepas Al Nassr tewas kepada Al Hilal.
Juventus kaji semula keputusan diarah bayar Ronaldo RM50 juta
Mahkamah timbang tara arah Juventus bayar gaji tertunggak 9.8 juta euro kepada Ronaldo.
Ronaldo hampir tumbuk pengadil selepas terima kad merah
Ronaldo dilihat berang selepas diprovokasi pemain pertahanan Al-Hilal, Ali Al-Bulayhi, hingga menyebabkan dia menyiku dada pemain tersebut.
Mesut Ozil, Fernando Torres ini keadaan mereka selepas bersara...
Ozil dan Torres membuktikan bahawa usia sememangnya sekadar angka sahaja kerana mereka juga boleh mengekalkan apa yang dilaksanakan sebelum ini.
Cristiano Ronaldo ledak hatrik lagi
Ronaldo jaringkan hatrik kedua dalam tempoh empat hari ketika Al-Nassr menumpaskan lawan Liga Pro Saudi, Abha 8-0.
Cristiano Ronaldo akui dia bukan lagi ‘pemain terbaik’ Portugal?
Bernardo Silva telah dinobatkan sebagai pemain terbaik Portugal walaupun Cristiano Ronaldo masih beraksi untuk negaranya.
Ronaldo mengamuk selepas tewas kepada Slovenia
Juara Euro 2016 itu tewas 0-2 kepada Slovenia pada Rabu, sekali gus menjadikan kekalahan pertama di bawah bimbingan Roberto Martinez.
Penalti Ronaldo cukup buat Al-Nassr kembali temui rentak kemenangan
Ronaldo selesa menyempurnakan gol yang ke-23 dalam saingan Liga Pro Saudi selepas 68 minit, menewaskan penjaga gol Edouard Mendy.
ACL: Cristiano Ronaldo belum mampu sekat kekecewaan Al Nassr
Sesudah kalah dalam perlawanan pembukaan di Al Ain minggu lalu, kelab Liga Pro Saudi Ronaldo itu mengalami kekecewaan lagi awal pagi tadi.
Ronaldo digantung satu perlawanan kerana tunjuk isyarat lucah dalam perlawanan Liga Saudi
Ronaldo juga perlu membayar denda 10,000 riyal Saudi kepada Persekutuan Bola Sepak Saudi dan 20,000 riyal kepada Al-Shabab.