Cristiano Ronaldo wins BBC Overseas Sports Personality award

Cristiano Ronaldo accepts the award.

London, Dec 15 (IANS) Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has won the British Broadcasting Corporation's (BBC) 2014 Overseas Sports Personality award.

"Thank you BBC for choosing me and to my old fans in England. Thank you very much," Ronaldo, formerly of England's Manchester United, was quoted as saying by the BBC Sunday.

He won the award ahead of tennis player Serena Williams, boxer Floyd Mayweather and MotoGP rider Marc Marquez. Ronaldo, who has scored 27 hat-tricks for Real, netted 17 goals in last season's Champions League, breaking the previous record of 14 held by Jose Altafini and Lionel Messi.

The 29-year-old footballer has scored 281 goals in 267 matches for Real Madrid and is the reigning world player of the year.

Thank you BBC for choosing me as 2014 Overseas Sports Personality. It’s very rewarding to win this award. pic.twitter.com/YAryOEKdYo

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 15, 2014