Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA Ballon d’Or award for 2013 beating Barcelona's Messi and France winger Franck Ribery on 13 January 2014. This is Ronaldo's second Ballon d'Or award after winning his first in 2008. For the past Ronaldo was confined to second and third place, winning after very long time, Ronaldo was on tears while receiving the award.

In a tight race, Cristiano Ronaldo received 1,365 votes and Lionel Messi had 1,205. Ronaldo scored 69 goals for Real Madrid and Portugal in the year 2013 and his hat trick goals against Sweden in World Cup playoff was the most strong individual performance.