FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery In Battle for Top Footballing Award

Posted by

Footballing giants do battle in Zurich.

Check in to Aston Villa vs Arsenal

FIFA will award it’s prestigious Ballon d’Or this evening with Cristiano Ronaldo the clear favourite to bring an end to Lionel Messi’s run as the winner of the top footballing award.

Real Madrid forward Ronaldo is expected to lift the away after an astonishing 2013 during which he netted 66 goals in 56 appearances for club and country and though he failed to secure a single piece of silverware during the year the Portuguese international should still expect to pick up his second Ballon d’Or, having won the award as a Man United star back in 2008.

Lionel Messi’s hopes of winning a fifth straight honour were perhaps hit by his recent spell out injured though this hasn’t prevented the Barcelona attacker helping his side to a La Liga triumph whilst also playing his part in keeping the Catalan side top of the pile this season.

The Argentine also found his feet with his national team and scored a total of 42 goals in 45 appearances.

In terms of silverware Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery has had a near flawless 2013, helping his Bavarian side to a domestic double as well as a Champions League triumph over Borussia Dortmund.

This term he has been key in Pep Guardiola’s debut season in charge at the Allianz Arena and Ribery has scored 22 goals and provided 18 assists in the course of his 52 games for Bayern Munich and the French national team.

The award will be handed out at around ten to seven UK Time this evening.

More Stories Ballon d'Or