Cristiano Ronaldo takes third Ballon d’Or ahead of Lionel Messi

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo won the Fifa Ballon d’Or award for the second year running and the third overall yesterday after a prolific, trophy-filled year with Real Madrid.

He was voted ahead of Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the poll run jointly by football’s governing body and France Football magazine.

“I would like to thank all of those who voted for me, my president, my coach and Real Madrid,” Ronaldo said. “It has been an unforgettable year. To win this trophy at the end of it is something incredibly unique.

“I never thought that I would take this trophy back on three occasions. I want to become one of the greatest players of all time.”

Joachim Loew’s feat in guiding Germany to the 2014 World Cup trophy earned him the coach of the year award.

Loew, 54, beat Carlo Ancelotti – who coached Real Madrid to their 10th Uefa Champions League title – and Atletico Madrid’s Argentinian coach Diego Simeone, who took them to the Spanish league title and to the Champions League final.

Loew said the award rounded off a sensational year.

“It is, for me, a huge honour. It is the icing on the cake and the cake was winning the World Cup,” Loew said.

Loew, who also guided Germany to the Euro 2008 final, where they lost to Spain, said Germany’s win in Brazil was no accident but had been the fruits of long hard labour.

“Winning the World Cup was the consequence of many years of hard work and lots of right decisions,” he said.

Colombian star James Rodriguez’s volley for Colombia against Uruguay in their last-16 match at the World Cup was voted goal of the year.

The 23 year old came out top ahead of Robin van Persie’s header at full stretch against Spain in the World Cup final group game against Spain and surprise finalist Irishwoman Stephanie Roche.

“I am happy. I would like to thank all those who voted,” Rodriguez said. “It is a very special goal for me and for all of Colombia. These are words of happiness and gratitude.”

THE NOMINEES FOR THE TOP GOAL OF THE YEAR: