Finally, Christiano Ronaldo is World's Best again

There were tears among patrons at FIFA's Zurich awards gala and on his own cheeks when Christiano Ronaldo was named winner of the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2013 on Monday evening.

And his slow, highly emotional response to the announcement by no other than Pele underscored how heavy the weight called Lionel Messi had weighed on Ronaldo's mind. Over the years C Ronaldo had given his all and ordinarily should have won the diadem without question, except of course for the one hurdle he failed to scale.

Now he can rest his heart and keep the fire burning as he picked his second World Best Player award, shrugging off Franck Ribbery and Messi (a record four time winner) to underscore the gem that he is. When Ronaldo first won the award in 2008, Messi was in the queue, coming in as first runner up before he preceeded to monopolise the title - (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012).

Ronaldo expressed gratitude to his team-mates at club and national team level, his wife, son and friends, without whose support he said the dream would not have come through.

In his words, it is very difficult to win the award.

Other award winners

FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR - NADINE ANGERER (Germany)

FIFA BALLON D’OR PRIX D’HONNEUR - PELE

FIFA Puskas award 2013 - ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC

2013 FIFA Fair Play Award winner - Afghanistan Football Federation

FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men's Football - JUPP HEYNCKES

FIFA World coach for Women’s Football - SILVIA NEID

FIFA Presidential Award 2013 - JACQUES ROGGE 

FIFA FIFPro WORLD XI

FORWARDS
Cristiano Ronaldo (POR / Real Madrid)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE / Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi (ARG / Barcelona)

MIDFIELDERS:
Andres Iniesta (ESP / Barcelona)
Xavi (ESP / Barcelona)
Franck Ribery (FRA / Bayern Munich)

DEFENDERS:
Philipp Lahm (GER / Bayern Munich)
Sergio Ramos (ESP / Real Madrid)
Thiago Silva (BRA / Paris Saint-Germain)
Dani Alves (BRA / Barcelona)

GOALKEEPER:
Manuel Neuer (GER / Bayern Munich)