CR7 says THANK YOU After his Ballon D'Or 2013 Award ...

CRISTIANO RONALDO
"First of all I have to say a great thanks to all of my team-mates with the club and the national team. Without all of their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, it is very difficult to win this award.

"Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level I have to thank. My wife, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved."

Beaten finalist Lionel Messi has congratulated Cristiano Ronaldo for ending his run of four straight Ballon d'Or wins in Zurich on Monday.

For the first time in four years the Argentina international captain was not the one making his way onto the stage to collect the gong from the bigwigs at FIFA, with 2008 winner Ronaldo edging him to the award after a phenomenal 12 months for both Real Madrid and Portugal.

And Messi opted for the magnanimous approach as he offered his congratulation to the 'deserving' recipient, saying: "I want to congratulate Cristiano because he was the winner and deserved it."

Ronaldo was visibly moved as he accepted the Golden Ball with his son Cristiano Junior at his side, and took a moment to wipe away his tears before addressing the crowd, and Messi, who is all too familiar with being up that stage, says the Portuguese star's emotional display was perfectly understandable, while insisting that merely being nominated is an achievement in itself.

"[His tears] were normal, it is a very emotional moment," he added.