FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo Wins Second Consecutive Ballon d’Or Trophy [FULL LIST OF WINNERS]

ZURICH – A lot of hardware was handed out in Switzerland today during the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 ceremony. In addition to the men’s soccer player of the year, the coaches of the year, women’s soccer player of the year, the presidential award, world starting XI and the Puskas award for goal of the year were handed out.

For the second consecutive year, Cristiano Ronaldo took home soccer’s top individual prize, the Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo scored 55 goals in 55 games, with 45 goals coming in La Liga and European play. He scored whopping 17 goals in the UEFA Champions an individual record. His efforts got his team the UEFA Champions League title for the 10^th time, known in soccer as “La Decima.”

Four-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, finished second for the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or and German goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, finished a distant third. He became the first goalkeeper to finish in the top three for the Ballon d’Or voting since Gianluigi Buffon finished second to Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.

The World starting XI recipients were: goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer, defenders: David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos and Philipp Lahm. Midfielders: Angel di Maria, Andres Iniesta and Toni Kroos. Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben.

Ralf Kellermann won the Women’s coach of the year award as the coach of VfL Wolfsburg. His team won the Bundesliga, the DFB-Cup and the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Joachim Loew took home the trophy for Men’s coach of the year for his 2014 World Cup victory in Brazil with the German National Team.

There was a moment of silence for the 12 victims slaughtered at the offices for Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris, France on January 7^th, 2015. FIFA President, Sepp Blatter held the moment silence and talked about choosing journalist, Hiroshi Kagawa, as the FIFA Presidential Award recipient and thanked all journalists for their work as he declared “Je Suis Charlie.”

There was an awkward moment when Lionel Messi was presented to the audience as finalist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014. Before speaking, his coach at Barcelona, Luis Enrique, gave Messi a video message in which he called him the “best player he’s ever seen” and “the most complete player he’s ever seen.” He then awkwardly wished Messi luck in his future endeavors in the sport of soccer.

It’s been no secret that Luis Enrique is in hot water and that Messi is unhappy at Camp Nou. The fact that Enrique would wish Messi luck in his future in soccer is an odd message to send a player whom you currently coach in the present. Perhaps his message was foreshadowing a departure by one or both from Barcelona in the near future.

The FIFA Puskas award for Goal of the Year was awarded to Colombia’s James Rodriguez whose stunning goal against Uruguay in the round of 16 on June 28^th, 2014 was given the award. Rodriguez's control and volley in one motion from 25 yards away was one of the more remarkable goals we have ever seen.

Finally, Germany’s Nadine Kessler won the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year award for 2014, beating out America’s Abby Wambach for the top prize for females in soccer. The award gave Germany three out of the four top individual trophies on the night.