CRISTIANO RONALDO EMERGES WORLD BEST FOR THE THIRD TIME

Cristiano Ronaldo beats Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer to Ballon d'Or award

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d’Or for the third time.

The trio of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Manuel Neuer

Winners of other awards include

FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year: Nadine Kessler (Germany/Wolfsburg)

FIFA Men’s Football Coach of the Year: Jogi Low (Germany)

FIFA Women’s Football Coach of the Year: Ralf Kellerman (Wolfsburg)

FIFA Presidential Award: Hiroshi Kagawa

FIFA Fair Play Award: Fifa’s volunteers  

FIFA Puskas Award: James Rodriguez (Colombia v Uruguay)

FIFA/FIFPro World XI: Manuel Neuer (Germany/Bayern Munich), Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid), David Luiz (Brazil/PSG), Philipp Lahm (Germany/Bayern Munich), Thiago Silva (Brazil/PSG), Andres Iniesta (Spain/Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Angel Di Maria (Argentina/Manchester United), Arjen Robben (Netherlands/Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid).

Interestingly, England captain Wayne Rooney voted for Ronaldo, Toni Kroos and Gareth Bale. Scotland captain Scott Brown voted for Ronaldo, Arjen Robben and Manuel Neuer. Wales captain, Ashley Williams on his own part went for Bale, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Eden Hazard. 

 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid and FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year winner Nadine Kessler of Germany.  

 Tonight’s nominees were Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer of which Thierry Henry opened the all important envelope and announced Cristiano Ronaldo as the winner.  

From the shortlist of Abby Wambach, Marta and Nadine Kessler, the award went to Nadine Kessler, from Wolfsburg.