An emotional Cristiano Ronaldo had to fight back the tears after ending four years of Lionel Messi domination to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or.

Ronaldo has won the award once before, back in 2008 while at Manchester United, but since then he has had to play second fiddle to Messi in the voting, finishing runner-up three times as the Argentinian claimed the crown on four successive occasions.
That is despite the Portugal international putting up incredible figures for Real Madrid – he has scored 231 goals in 222 games for the Spanish giants – which at any other time would surely have been enough to win a host of gongs, as Messi has.
The problem for Ronaldo has been that Messi, and his club Barcelona, have been in record-breaking form in recent years and few could deny the Argentinian ace deserved his place as the game’s leading light.
No more, though.
Ronaldo was on Monday night awarded with the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or at a ceremony in Zurich after securing 1,365 points in the voting, with Messi having to settle for second place with 1,205 and France international Franck Ribery third with 1,127.
Ronaldo did not win any silverware with Madrid last year but he was in phenomenal goalscoring form, netting 69 times for club and country, including all four goals in Portugal’s 4-2 aggregate victory over Sweden in the World Cup qualifying play-offs.
In accepting the award, a teary and humble Ronaldo was quick to highlight the support of his team-mates.
He said: “I have no words to describe this moment. Thanks to all of my team-mates, at Real Madrid and the national team.
“Without all of their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, it is very difficult to win this award.
“Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level I have to thank. My partner, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved.”
In the mixed zone afterwards, the Portugal captain was quoted as saying by AS: “I don’t know if it’s fair or not. Ribery could have won it as much as me.
“I’ve had a very good season at an individual level. I want to be here again next year and win it again.
“My mum (who was in attendance) cries very easily and when I saw her crying it made me cry as well. I’m an emotional person.”
On his rivalry with Messi, the 28-year-old added: “I have a very professional relationship with Messi, he’s a player I admire. I’m happy to compete with the best. I’m going to try win things with Madrid and the national team, and I hope to be here (again next year) and win.”
Messi had held exclusive rights to the award in recent seasons as he became the first player to win the Ballon d’Or four consecutive times.
He too had another memorable year in 2013, but it was not quite enough to see him claim a fifth successive gong and he hailed Ronaldo as a just winner.
“I want to congratulate Cristiano because he was the winner and deservedly so. I think it was a good year for the three of us and that’s why we were there. I have nothing to complain about or make any excuses,” said the 26-year-old, who again caught the attention at the gala with his fashion choice as he wore a shiny burgundy three-piece suit.
Just behind the duo in the voting – made by national team coaches and captains plus members of the international media – was Ribery, who finished in the top three for the first time.
The Frenchman’s efforts helped Bayern enjoy a record-breaking year which saw them become the first German team to win the treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup in the same season. Bayern also lifted the European Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in 2013.
In some of the other awards, Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer won the women’s top prize for the first time while Jupp Heynckes was named men’s FIFA World Coach of the Year.
Heynckes presided over Bayern’s unforgettable 2012/13 campaign before stepping down at the end of the season. In the voting he collected more than double the points of second-placed Jurgen Klopp, the Borussia Dortmund boss, with former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson finishing in third spot.

According to Foxsports

The Liverpool loanee’s second-half spot-kick saw Gus Poyet’s men pick up a crucial win at the Stadium of Light after Nemanja Vidic had cancelled out Ryan Giggs’ own goal.

The visitors saw Ryan Giggs smash the crossbar from range while Adnan Januzaj had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half, but it was Gus Poyet’s men who took the lead in stoppage time of the first period as United’s veteran Welshman bundled the ball into his own net.

The Red Devils responded immediately after the restart, Nemanja Vidic levelling the scores from a corner, but when Tom Cleverley felled substitute Adam Johnson inside the box, Liverpool loanee Borini was able to restore the hosts’ lead from the penalty spot.

Both teams made seven changes, with Marcos Alonso making his debut for Sunderland, while United named a strong line-up that included Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick and Vidic.

The hosts enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening exchanges and had the first glimpse of goal on 12 minutes with Borini’s scuffed effort.

United began to settle into the match with Januzaj looking particularly threatening, and Moyes’ side went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when Giggs’ deflected strike rattled the crossbar after 25 minutes.

The visitors also thought their pressure had told on 38 minutes when Januzaj fired home after initially striking against Giggs, but the linesman ruled the latter was offside when he blocked the ball.

And United’s failure to take their chances counted against them on the stroke of half-time as Wes Brown knocked Sebastian Larsson’s free kick across the six-yard box where Giggs, sliding in to challenge former United team-mate Phil Bardsley, inadvertently applied the final touch from close range.

It did not take long for United to restore parity after the break, however, as Vidic leapt highest to head home Cleverley’s whipped corner on 51 minutes.

But, rather than building on their equaliser, it was Sunderland who came closest to regaining the lead on 62 minutes when Larsson’s volley was parried to safety by David de Gea.

Three minutes later, Poyet’s side did move ahead when Johnson – who had replaced Emanuele Giaccherini from the bench – was the victim of a clumsy tackle by Cleverley in the area and Borini blasted the resulting penalty into the roof of the net.

With 20 minutes remaining, the lively Januzaj almost levelled with a bending effort that curled wide of Vito Mannone’s far post.

United piled on the pressure in the closing stages with Januzaj twice coming close and an effort from Evra just evading the far post, but Sunderland withstood the barrage to ensure they will take a lead to Old Trafford in the second leg on January 22.

According to Goal

The football world is in mourning after it was announced that the legendary forward, regarded by many as one of the greatest to play the game, has passed away.

Portugal and Benfica great Eusebio has passed away at the age of 71.

Born in Mozambique in 1942, Eusebio was brought to Portugal by Benfica head coach Bela Guttman, who signed the player in 1961 after making a personal trip to Africa to see him play.

The attacker, nicknamed ‘the Black Pearl’ and ‘the Black Panther,’ went on to become a legend for both club and country, winning 11 Primeira Liga titles, five domestic cups and the 1962 European Cup with Aguias, as well as inspiring Portugal to third place in the 1966 World Cup.

With his speed, power and skill, Eusebio was an unstoppable force in the Portuguese league and averaged more than a goal a game, hitting 319 in just 313 league appearances and remains Benfica’s all-time leading scorer.

His talent saw him finish top scorer in Portugal six times, twice win the European Golden Boot (1968 and 1973) and be named European Player of the Year in 1965 as Benfica became a powerhouse of European football.

Eusebio’s exploits were not restricted to just domestic level. He earned 64 caps and scored 41 times for Portugal, most notably finishing the 1966 World Cup as one of the stars of the tournament. He scored nine times to secure the Golden Boot and also netted as his side overcame the Soviet Union 2-1 to seal third place.

After 15 years at Benfica, Eusebio played out the remainder of his career in North America, representing a number of teams in Mexico and the USA before retiring in 1978.

The former striker is regarded as one of the finest to play the game and was placed ninth in Fifa’s ‘Player of the Century’ poll.

Cristiano Ronaldo was among those paying tribute to Eusebio, writing on his Twitter account: “Always eternal, Eusebio, rest in peace.”

Reports in Portugal indicate that he passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest in the early hours of Sunday morning.

According to Goal

The Ivorian headed in Wayne Routledge’s cross in the dying minutes after Chicharito had cancelled out the Englishman’s opener and substitute Fabio had seen red.

Wilfried Bony struck a late winner as Swansea City dumped Manchester United out of the FA Cup and piled more Old Trafford misery on David Moyes.

Wayne Routledge put the visitors on course for a famous upset when he lobbed Anders Lindegaard on 12 minutes, only for Chicharito to convert Alexander Buttner’s cross and pull United level within four minutes.

But Moyes’ frustration was compounded when substitute Fabio was shown a red card 10 minutes from time and as both sides pushed forward, Bony headed in Routledge’s cross to win it.

Rio Ferdinand also hobbled off injured during another disappointing afternoon for the Premier League champions, while Swansea can now look forward to a fourth-round tie against either Birmingham City, Crawley Town or Bristol Rovers.
Moyes handed starting spots to goalkeeper Lindegaard and defenders Ferdinand and Buttner, while Danny Welbeck and Chicharito led the line in the absence of injured pair Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

There were five changes from the Swansea side that lost to Manchester City in the Premier League on Wednesday. Captain Ashley Williams was on the bench with manager Michael Laudrup forced to contend with an injury list featuring the likes of Michu and Michel Vorm.

The hosts began the brighter and should have gone ahead after 11 minutes, but Hernandez failed to connect with an effort from inside the area after good link-up play between Welbeck and Chris Smalling.

United were made to pay soon after, when Alejandro Pozuelo played in Routledge, who produced a delightful lob over Lindegaard to put Swansea ahead.

Four minutes later, United were level, Chicharito making amends for his earlier miss to prod home Buttner’s cross inside the six-yard box.

After the early goals, chances dried up for both sides before Jonathan de Guzman and Buttner threatened from set-pieces for either side.

Chicharito wasted another opportunity a minute before the break, volleying Jonny Evans’ lofted ball wide of Gerhard Tremmel’s right-hand post.

The sides cancelled one another out in the early stages of the second half, with Swansea perhaps enjoying greater possession, without causing any problems.

Bony’s swerving effort had Lindegaard worried on the hour before it whistled wide, while Swansea’s resolute defending at the other end stifled United’s forward line.

United’s cause was not helped by the loss of Ferdinand to a suspected knee injury and the dismissal of his replacement Fabio, who was shown a red card for a late challenge on Jose Canas 10 minutes from time.

And Bony compounded Moyes’ misery late on to secure Laudrup a first win in eight matches.

According to Goal