MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 09:10:30| >> :120:23740:23740:

Cristiano Ronaldo thanks teammates for award

Real Madrid and Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo thanks his teammates after winning this year's FIFA Ballon d'or award.

Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has thanked his teammates after picking up this year's FIFA Ballon d'Or award.

Ronaldo was named as the best football player in the world for the second time in his career during this evening's ceremony, ending Lionel Messi's four-year reign.

An emotional Ronaldo received the award from Brazilian legend Pele and went on to thank those who have helped him reach the pinnacle of world football once again.

"First of all I have to say a great thanks to all of my team-mates with the club and the national team," Ronaldo said during the ceremony.

"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 wife, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved."

Ronaldo, who scored 62 goals in 52 games for club and country in 2013, beat Messi and Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery to the prize.

ID:130212: cacheID:130212:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2319:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Restore Data
Share this article now:
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
Read Next:
Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Mallorca188371821-327
6Villarreal167542827126
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Celta Vigo176382528-321
13Rayo Vallecano165561819-120
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1642101528-1314
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!