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.
© 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
