Cristiano Ronaldo beat the competition and cemented his position as one of the best football players in the world with his third FIFA Ballon d’Or award.
Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the world’s most formidable footballer yet, took home the FIFA Ballon d’Or award after giving the best on-pitch performances during 2014. He edged out 22 other contenders by garnering 33.76% of the total votes.
The Real Madrid midfielder is now a three-time winner, tied with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, himself a football maestro who came in at second place this year with 15.76% of votes.
While it’s easy to attribute Ronaldo’s win to his impeccable club form, where he was top-scorer in the La Liga and UEFA Champions League, the Portuguese national also showed grit and perseverance by taking part in the World Cup despite nursing an injury. It’s this sacrifice and dedication to the profession that set him apart from the other contenders and possibly contributed to his Ballon d’Or win.
At just 29 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo has already joined the leagues of football legends and looks set to continue his streak of success in the football world. His success as a footballer has also earn him endorsement deals with notable brands, among them Nike, Tag Heuer and Samsung. In December last year, Ronaldo was unveiled as Sacoor Brothers’ new world ambassador, wearing the brand’s well-tailored suits to occasions such as the Ballon d’Or award ceremony.
See what else Cristiano Ronaldo has to say in the full FIFA interview.