Portuguese American Journal

FIFA: Cristiano Ronaldo awarded the 2013 Ballon d’Or – Zurich,Switzerland

For the second time in his career, Cristiano Ronaldo, 28, won Monday the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, after being voted “World’s Player of the Year” at the FIFA’s awards ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.

He has beaten Franck Ribéry of the Bayern Munich and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, who was has held the honor for the last four years.

Ronaldo won with 1,365 points, ahead of Lionel Messi with 1,205 points and Franck Ribéry with 1,127 points. He was voted by a jury of world national team captains and coaches, plus selected journalists, in FIFA’s 209 member countries.

He is the third Portuguese international footballer to win the Ballon d’Or after Eusébio (1965) and Luís Figo (2000), and the first Portuguese player to win the FIFA’s award twice.

“I am very happy, it is very difficult to win this award,” a tearful Cristiano told the audience. “It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved,” he added.

Born on Madeira island, to Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Dinis Aveiro, his second name “Ronaldo” was given after US President Ronald Reagan,  his father’s favorite actor.

Professional Profile:

NameCristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro

Age: 28

Date of birth: February 5, 1985

Place of birth: Santo António, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.

Position: Forward

Clubs: Sporting Clube de Portugal (2002-2003), Manchester United (ENG/2003-2009), Real Madrid (ESP/since 2009)

Portugal International appearances: 109

International debut: August 20, 2003, Portugal 1 Kazakhstan 0

Last international appearance: November 18, 2013, Sweden 2 Portugal 3

International goals: 47

Honors: Club Champions League (1) 2007-08; Club World Cup (1) 2008; Portuguese Supercup (1) 2002; English Championships (3) 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009; English FA Cup (1) 2004; English League Cups (2) 2005-2006, 2008-2009; Community Shields (2) 2007, 2008; Spanish Championship (1) 2011-12; Spanish Cup (1) 2010-11; Spanish Supercup (1) 2012.

International World Cup: 4th (2006), second round (2010), 10 matches, 2 goals

European Championships: Finalist (2004), semifinal (2012), quarter-finalist (2008), 14 matches, 6 goals

Individual Honors: Ballon d’Or (2008, 2013) FIFA World Player of the Year (2008,2013); PFA Players’ Player of the Year (2006-07, 2007-08); Football Writers’ Player of the Year (2006-07, 2007-08); Top European Goal Scorer (2007-08, 2010-11); Top scorer in the Spanish league with 40 goals (2010-11); Top scorer in the English Premiership with 31 goals (2007-08); Top scorer in the Champions League (2007-08 with eight goals, 2012-13 with 12 goals).

 paj.staff

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