It wasn't hard to tell how much winning the FIFA Ballon d'Or award meant to Cristiano Ronaldo. Upon being named the world's most outstanding soccer player of 2013, Ronaldo teared up during an emotional acceptance speech at the award gala in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday.
The 28-year-old Portuguese forward ended an unprecedented four-year winning streak by Lionel Messi to take home the coveted prize for the second time in his career. Messi had won the past three FIFA Ballon d'Or prizes and taken home the Ballon d'Or in 2009 before it was merged with the FIFA World Player Of The Year prize. With Messi battling injuries in 2013, Ronaldo racked up goals at a blistering pace for Real Madrid and lifted Portugal into the 2014 World Cup with an incredible performance in a playoff against Sweden. In 59 games for club and country in 2013, Ronaldo scored 69 goals.
Messi finished second to Ronaldo, with Franck Ribery finishing in third place among the finalists. All three were on hand in Switzerland when Pele announced the winner. According to FIFA, 184 national team coaches, 184 national team captains and 173 media representatives voted for the 2013 Ballon d’Or. After hearing his name called by the Brazilian soccer icon, Ronaldo took the stage, where he was soon joined by his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. With tears in his eyes and emotion in his voice, Ronaldo could not hide how much the honor meant to him.
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"Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level I have to thank. My wife, my friends, my son," Ronaldo said, via The Telegraph. "It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved."
After taking home his sport's top individual prize, Ronaldo thanked his fans and shared a highlight video that served as a reminder for why he was taking home the coveted trophy.
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