FIFA grants the Ballon d’Or 2014 to the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo

ABC.es

The Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo was the winner for the second consecutive year of the Ballon d’Or of the 2014 season, awarded on Monday by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).

As the best player of 2014, Ronaldo, 29, surpassed the Barcelona striker Lionel Messi and the Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who also opted for the prize.

The Portuguese forward was awarded the prize consecutively, since last years, and added his third Ballon (along that of 2008), approaching the four Messi already has (from 2009-2012).

Ronaldo, with 61 goals in 2014, helped his team, the Real Madrid, to achieve four titles: UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey, European Super Cup and Club World Cup.

With this new award, the Portuguese player becomes part of the elite group of players who won the Ballon d’Or in three editions: Johan Cruyff (1971, 1973, 1974), Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985) and Marco Van Basten (1988, 1989, 1992).