Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or to be crowned the world’s best player at an event in Zurich, Switzerland.
This marks the third time Ronaldo has won the award, the second in succession, after Barcelona rival Lionel Messi had won it the previous four years. Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was also in contention.
As well as the Ballon d’Or, six other awards were dished out. Germany’s Nadine Kessler won the best women’s player ahead of Brazil’s Marta and Abby Wambach of the USA.
Germany’s World Cup winning manager Joachim Low was named Coach of the Year ahead of Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone of rivals Atletico Madrid. ( The Independent)