Ronaldo scored 69 goals for club and country in 2013 (Getty Images)
Real Madrid and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was named the 2013 Ballon d’Or winner, the award given to the world’s best footballer.
It was his second time winning the award (2008). Argentine and Barcelona star Lionel Messi had won the award the past four years but missed the last two months of 2013 with a thigh injury.
Ronaldo lead all votes with 1365 points, followed by Messi (1205 points) and Bayern Munich and French star Franck Ribery (1127 points).
The 28-year old had perhaps the finest year of his career, scoring 59 goals (in 51 matches) for Madrid as well as 10 goals (in nine matches) for Portugal.
But it was his performance for Portugal against Sweden in the second leg of their World Cup playoff tie that may have sealed the award for Ronaldo. He carried his country on his back and into the World Cup with a hat-trick as Portugal won 3-2 (4-2 on aggregate) at Sweden.
Following that match, FIFA announced that they would reopen and extend the deadline for Ballon d’Or voting.
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