Ronaldo wins Fifa Ballon d'Or

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the Fifa Ballon d'Or, beating off competition from Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery to secure the award for a second time.

Although the 28-year-old Portuguese failed to claim a major trophy at club level, he has been crowned the world's outstanding footballer over the course of the last 12 months.

Messi had won each of the last four editions of the award, including all three since it was endorsed by Fifa, while Ribery played a pivotal part in a historic treble-winning season for the Bavarians, but Ronaldo's tally of 69 goals in 59 games for club and country in 2013 proved decisive.

Ronaldo previously won the award in 2008 as a Manchester United player, but has since finished runner-up to Messi on three occasions (in 2009, 2011 and 2012).