"It is probably true that I deserve the Ballon d'Or" says Cristiano Ronaldo

FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013 winner Cristiano Ronaldo talks to the press after the award ceremony in Zurich

Cristiano Ronaldo was acclaimed the best player in the world for 2013, after the Portuguese beat strong competition from little Argentine magician Lionel Messi and French winger Frank Ribery to bag the coveted Ballon d’Or.

Although the 28-year old was quick to point out that his competitors deserved great plaudits for their exploits last year, it’s fair to say humility is not Ronaldo‘s strongest suit.

“If people gave the award to me, it is probably true that I deserve it. Messi or Ribery deserved the Ballon d’Or too, but I won it. I feel really happy to win the Ballon d’Or and I share this award with Real Madrid,” he said.

“Ribery is an outstanding player and he deserved to win, as did Messi as well, but I won it.” he added.

Four time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi who managed to finish only second this year, was quick to say that his La Liga couterpart was every bit worthy of the award.

FIFA Ballon d’Or nominee Lionel Messi of Argentina and Barcelona signs autographs during the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2013

“He had a great year, so there is nothing else to say. It was a good year for the three of us and that’s why the three of us were there. Whoever won it would have been a worthy winner,” Messi told reporters in Zurich.

Although the runner up did not explicitly admit that his absence from the game due to injury might have tilted the scales in Ronaldo’s favour, the Catalan legend went to great lengths to highlight the fact.

“I don’t know if it would have been different if I hadn’t been injured, but I was out for a long time. It meant I wasn’t in the best shape at the end of the Champions League and meant I started the season injured. I was a long time out, but that has nothing to do with it. Cristiano had a great year and he won it on merit” Messi added.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored 69 goals in just 59 appearances in all competitions in 2013, which included a hattrick against Sweden to single handedly plot his country’s progress to the Brazil World Cup.

While accepting the award, the strong powerful Real Madrid star could not hold back his emotion.

“I saw my mother, and she was crying. I tried to control myself but I cried too,” he explained. “My first Ballon d’Or was huge, but this one is more about emotion because I was in front of my mother and my child.”

Cristiano finally ended Lionel Messi’s four year domination to be crowned the best player in the world for the second time.