Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the second year in a row and the third time in his career, ahead of Argentinean Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer of Germany, at an impressive ceremony here on Monday.
Joachim Low’s feat in guiding Germany to the 2014 FIFA World Cup earned him the Coach-of-the-Year award.
The 54-year-old beat Carlo Ancelotti — who coached Real Madrid to the Champions League title — and Atletico Madrid’s Argentinean handler Diego Simeone, who took it to the Spanish title and the Champions League final.
“It is for me a huge honour, it is the icing on the cake and the cake was winning the World Cup,” said Low.
Colombian James Rodriguez won the Puskas Award for the goal of the year.
Earlier, the FIFpro team of the year was announced with all the three Ballon d’Or nominees finding a place in the chosen XI.
Blatter’s tribute FIFA president Sepp Blatter paid tribute to the victims of last week's terror attacks in France, remarking “this evening we are all a little bit French”.
The Swiss head of world football said: “In our world so disturbed, often hostile and violent, I will say only one thing this evening..and in French: We do not yet know the true power of peace, nor the true power of football.
“This evening we are all a little bit French, which only increases our sympathy for our neighbours who have been so deeply scarred by the violent events of recent days. So allow me to repeat my appeal of peace and tolerance”.
The Swiss noted that Monday's ceremony to crown the world player of the year had its roots in France.
“If this evening has a touch of France about it, it's because the Ballon d'Or first saw the light of day in France. Let us not forget that it was created in 1956 by my friends at France Football (magazine).
The team: Manuel Neuer (Ger/Bayern Munich); Sergio Ramos (Esp/Real Madrid), Thiago Silva (Bra/Paris SG), David Luiz (Bra/Paris SG), Philipp Lahm (Ger/Bayern Munich); Andres Iniesta (Esp/Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Ger/Real Madrid), Angel Di Maria (Arg/Manchester United); Arjen Robben (Ned/Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (Arg/Barcelona) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Por/Real Madrid).
