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Home , Arjen Robben, David Luiz, Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, World XI

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SWITZERLAND: Real and Portugal forward (center left) poses with his 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or award for Player of the Year with FIFA president Sepp Blatter (center right) and the other award recipi- ents at the end of the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or award ceremony. — AFP Ronaldo wins third Ballon d’Or

ZURICH: Portuguese and Real Madrid great Cristiano The 29-year-old Portuguese forward has been at the surged into the Atletico box and collapsed under the atten- improve and raise the bar of achievement to a level previ- Ronaldo won his third Ballon d’Or yesterday at the FIFA cer- height of his powers again this year, terrorising opposing tions of Gabi. ously thought impossible. emony in Zurich. defences in the Champions League and ’s . He His moment had finally arrived in the homeland he left When he scored his fourth hat-trick of the current cam- The 29-year-old-who played a key role in Real Madrid’s is also hungry for more. Asked at the Ballon d’Or ceremony 11 years ago for Manchester United at a crucial crossroads paign against Celta Vigo in December, he moved through charge to a 10th Champions League trophy-beat eternal what his favourite had been, Ronaldo was only half- on the road to being the world’s best. the double century mark for goals in La Liga in just 178 rival and four-time winner of and jokin when he said: “For me the next goal is always the most Inevitably he slammed the penalty home to take his games. Germany’s World Cup winning goalkeeper . important.” Despite a patellar tendinosis problem in his left record-breaking tally to 17 goals in a single Champions His overall tally is a staggering 285 goals in 274 appear- Ronaldo was the star of the night in which Real team- knee that contributed to an underwhelming World Cup, the League season. ances for Madrid. It is no longer a question of whether mate James Rodriguez won the goal of the year award and Portugal captain was clearly a deserving winner of a third Yet, his outrageous show of vanity as he tore off his shirt Ronaldo will become their leading all time scorer, but when. Germany’s Joachim Loew was declared of the year. Ballon d’Or in a year in which he guided Real Madrid to their and flexed his muscled torso was a reminder of why many Moreover, he is likely to pass Raul’s record tally of 323 hav- “I never thought I would win this trophy on three occa- 10th Champions League title (but first in 12 years) and con- had in the past preferred the more modest Messi. ing played more than 400 fewer games. There is more than sions,” Ronaldo said in his victory speech, signalling there tinued to rewrite the history books. The preening side of Ronaldo will always exist. His latest goals to his game too. His wonderful reverse ball for James would be no letup in his quest for football glory. That night in Lisbon on May 24 illustrated better than Ballon d’Or will likely take up residence in the museum he Rodriguez to open the scoring against Espanyol on “I want to be one of the greatest players of all time and most the two sides of Ronaldo’s character that has at times opened to honor himself in his home city of Funchal on the Saturday took him joint top of the assist charts in La Liga of course this requires a lot of effort,” added the Portuguese made him a divisive figure. island of Madeira. too. As in the goal charts, Messi lurks behind in second. striker who also won the award in 2013 and in 2008. Battling through knee troubles and frustrated for over 90 His story, though, is also one of a testament to extraordi- The rivalry between the two has marked an era unlike Ronaldo led Real Madrid to their 10th European Champions minutes, Ronaldo and his Galactico team mates looked set nary hard work and sacrifice. Ronaldo came from a poor any other. Maradona and Pele, and Franz League crown in sensational style in 2014, smashing Messi’s for one of the most embarrassing defeats in Real’s history as background and many would say he has less natural talent Beckenbauer never played in the same league, at the same record of 15 Champions League goals in a single season they trailed poorer city rivals Atletico Madrid until Sergio than the elegant, diminutive Messi. But Ronaldo has trans- time, for the two of the biggest sides in the world, judged with 17 in just 11 appearances. Ramos’s towering header in stoppage time. formed himself from the skinny kid that arrived at Old head-to-head, week in, week out. Cristiano Ronaldo shut out Lionel Messi for the second Further goals in extra time from and Marcelo Trafford into a physical specimen of the type football has And for Ronaldo, the rivalry is certain to go on-just look straight year in the battle for the Ballon d’Or and he is show- made the long-awaited “La Decima”, a tenth European Cup, rarely seen. at the Ballon d’Or count: Messi has four to Ronaldo’s three. ing no sign of giving up his grip as king of world football. secure in Lisbon. But it was not enough for Ronaldo who That physical transformation is a symbol of his desire to Portugal’s king of football always wants more. — AFP

Messi, Neuer, Ronaldo voted to FIFPro World XI ZURICH: All three players shortlisted Real Madrid, the European champion for the FIFA Ballon d’Or award were also had four players in the FIFPro line- selected by their peers for the 2014 up. Di Maria was a standout in Madrid’s FIFPro World XI team. Lionel Messi, Champions League final victory, against Manuel Neuer and Cristiano Ronaldo city rival Atletico, before joining were among seven 2013 team members Manchester United. was the who retained their places in worldwide other World XI player who switched voting by 23,000 members of national clubs last season, moving from Chelsea players’ unions. Germany’s World Cup- to join at Saint- winning captain , Brazil Germain. Brazil failed to get a third play- captain Thiago Silva, and Spain pair er elected as there was again no place and Andres Iniesta also for . The star forward lost out to : A combintation of file pictures show big English players who will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations, which stayed in the elite lineup. Robben in a three-man attack with begins this week. — AFP David Luiz was voted into the Messi and Ronaldo, one year after defense despite playing in Brazil’s 7-1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the third for- Fates entwined, Toure and Bony lead exodus rout by Germany in the World Cup semi- ward elected. The other 2013 team finals, when Thiago Silva was suspend- members who lost their places were LONDON: Ivory Coast team-mates and probable player was in South Africa. “Yaya is a big miss for us Newcastle United will also lose the services of an ed. Still, the Brazilian pair was reunited , Hernandez and Franck future club-mates Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony because of what he has done at the club, but we have in-form striker, with Papiss Cisse having been called for a second embarrassing loss, 3-0 Ribery. headline the departures from the English Premier to deal with that and carry on this run we have been up by Senegal, but he was due to serve a three-match against the in the third- FIFPro World XI 2014: Manuel Neuer League for the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on,” said Toure’s midfield colleague James Milner. ban anyway for elbowing Everton’s Seamus Coleman. this week. Toure, star of Manchester City’s title suc- Swansea City are likely to find it altogether more Newcastle, currently without a manager following the place match. (Bayern /Germany), Philipp Lahm cess last season, made a sluggish start to the cam- difficult to compensate for the absence of Bony, who departure of Alan Pardew, must also cede Ivorian was picked as the only (Bayern Munich/Germany), Thiago Silva paign, but he has rediscovered his best form in was the league’s top scorer in 2014 with 20 goals and Cheick Tiote. player from the Dutch team which start- (Paris Saint-Germain/Brazil), David Luiz recent weeks, scoring seven times in his last 11 has found the net nine times this season. But with the West Ham United will lose Senegalese midfielder ed the World Cup by routing title holder (Chelsea/Paris Saint-Germain/Brazil), Sergio appearances. His goals and driving midfield displays 26-year-old poised to complete a £28 million ($42.5 Cheikhou Kouyate, but his compatriot Diafra Sakho, Spain 5-1. Ramos (Real Madrid/Spain), Angel Di Maria will be badly missed by Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who million, 35.8 million euros) move to Manchester City, who has scored nine goals since signing from Metz, are breathing down Chelsea’s necks in the battle for he is likely to have played his last game for Swansea has been ruled out of the tournament by a back Argentina had a second selection as (Real Madrid/Manchester United/ the English crown. already. Swansea manager Garry Monk can at least injury. On-loan midfielder Alex Song will also not be Angel Di Maria joined teammate Messi. Argentina), (Bayern But the blow has been softened by the news that turn to international Bafetimbi Gomis, signed taking part in the tournament after being omitted Toni Kroos completed the lineup as the Munich/Real Madrid/Germany), Andres ’s contract has been extended until from Lyon during the close season, but he has found from Cameroon’s squad, which prompted him to third Germany player, and the fourth Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), Cristiano the end of the season, delaying his arrival at City’s sis- the net only four times in his 22 appearances to date. announce his international retirement at the age of who played for Bayern Munich last year. Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal), Lionel ter club FC. “Bafe is a different striker to Bony, but he is out- 27. Bottom club Leicester City must do without City also coped reasonably well in Toure’s absence standing and I want him to enjoy this period and get Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez, who has had an influ- As Kroos transferred in the offseason Messi (Barcelona/Argentina), Arjen Robben during the last Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, winning some goals,” Monk said. “He is a class striker and now ential role in the team’s improved recent form, but to join Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos at (Bayern Munich/Netherlands). — AP twice and drawing twice while the former Barcelona he is our main striker.” Ghanaian full-back Jeff Schlupp stays behind. — AFP