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Cristiano Ronaldo beats Lionel Messi, Franck Ribery to Ballon d'Or crown

Cristiano Ronaldo wins the FIFA Ballon d'Or award ahead of Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery.

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for the first time, beating Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery to the coveted individual prize.

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo poses with the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or award for player of the year during the FIFA Ballon d'Or award ceremony on January 13, 2014© Getty Images

The 28-year-old Real Madrid forward was revealed as the winner at a glitzy ceremony in Zurich this evening and cried on stage when making his acceptance speech.

It was a close race between the three nominees, with Ronaldo picking up 27.99% of the votes, Messi 24.72%, Ribery 23.36% and others 23.93%.

Portuguese international Ronaldo previously won the FIFA World Player of the Year prize in 2008 while at Manchester United, but since France Football's Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year were merged in 2010, he finished second to Messi in the last two years.

FIFA also announced its FIFPro World XI, who has four Barcelona players, three Bayern Munich players, two from Madrid and two from Paris Saint-Germain.

Former Bayern boss Jupp Heynckes was named as Coach of the Year, while the Puskas Award for best goal went to Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic for his long-range overhead kick against England.

The Women's World Player of the Year award went to German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.

Ballon d'Or: Cristiano Ronaldo

FIFPro World XI: Neuer; Alves, Thiago Silva, Ramos, Lahm; Xavi, Iniesta, Ribery; Ronaldo, Messi, Ibrahimovic

Coach of the Year: Jupp Heynckes

Puskas Award: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Women's World Player of the Year Nadine Angerer

Ballon d'Or Prix D'Honneur: Pele

Fair Play Award: Afghanistan Football Federation

FIFA Presidential Award: Jacques Rogge

Women's Coach of the Year: Silvia Neid

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A general shot of the Ballon d'Or trophy on January 7, 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913


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