Portugal and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo was named the world's best footballer for the second time in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday (January 13), preventing his great rival Lionel Messi from winning the award for a fifth year in a row.
Argentine Messi, hampered by uncharacteristic injury problems at Barcelona late in the year, and Frenchman Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich were the other candidates for the prize, officially known as the FIFA Ballon d'Or.
Ronaldo secured the title with 1,365 points, ahead of Lionel Messi with 1,205 points and Franck Ribery with 1,127 points.
