Ronaldo retains FIFA Ballon d’Or

Portugese striker, Ronaldo has for the second year running
emerged the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 Award held in Kongressur,
Zurich making it his third win, one short of Barcelona striker,
Lionel Messi.
The Portugal superstar beat fellow finalists Lionel Messi and
Manuel Neuer to the award after a season which saw him
lead Real Madrid to its historic ‘La Decima’ Champions
League crown.
Ronaldo had finished runner-up behind Messi in 2011 and
2012 before pipping the Argentinian in 2013 – and said at the
glittering ceremony in Zurich that he hoped there would be
more to come.
The winner said: “It has been an unforgettable year and win a
trophy of this kind is something unique.
“I want to continue working as I have so far to go on to win
more titles as an individual and in a team.
“Of course this is something that is always with me. I want to
become one of the greatest players of all time and this
requires a lot of effort but I hope to get there.”
Ronaldo ran out clear winner having accumulated 37 per cent
of the poll, which was done by the captains and coaches of
international sides, while Messi narrowly pipped Bayern
Munich goalkeeper Neuer to second place, the pair earning
15.76 per cent and 15.72 per cent respectively.
Champions League winner Ralf Kellerman has been named
Coach of the Year 2014 for women’s football. The 46-year-old
manager of Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg came out on top of
Germany U20s coach Maren Meinert and Japan national team
manager Norio Sasaki in the vote for the FIFA award.
Last year, Germany Women’s coach Silvia Neid was awarded
the prestigious accolade.
Kellermann was visibly moved when collecting his award: “I’m
a little nervous, more so than during matches. It’s an
incredible moment. I may have been granted to chance to
receive this award, but it is a team achievement.”