Cristiano Ronaldo wins Fifa Ballon d'Or as Joachim Low wins coach of the year

Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2014 Fifa Ballon d'Or ahead of Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, scooping up the prestigious individual award for the third time in his career.





Ronaldo enjoyed a hugely successful 2014, in which he guided Madrid to Champions League glory by netting a record 17 goals in one campaign, and earned 37.66 per cent of the votes.

Additionally, the prolific attacker played an integral part in the Santiago Bernabeu side's Copa del Rey win by netting three goals in six appearances, even if he missed the final against Barcelona due to injury.

On an individual level, the 29-year-old won the Liga top scorer award by scoring 31 goals in 30 appearances, which also saw him crowned joint-winner of the European Golden Shoe together with Luis Suarez.

Ronaldo becomes the seventh player in history to successfully defend his Ballon d'Or title after Johan Cruyff, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten and Messi.





Germany boss Joachim Low has been voted Fifa World Coach of the Year after guiding his side to World Cup glory in Brazil, beating Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti and Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone to the award.

The 54-year-old won the biggest trophy of his career back in July as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 after extra-time in the final in Rio, courtesy of a Mario Gotze strike, and received 36.23 per cent of the votes for the award at the Ballon d'Or Gala.