Ronaldo Is Soccer’s Player of Year Again, Beating Messi

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo was named world soccer’s best player for the second straight year, beating record four-time winner Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to the Ballon d’Or trophy.

The 29-year-old from Portugal collected the prize for 2014 at a ceremony in Zurich yesterday after a poll of national team coaches, captains and journalists organized by soccer ruling body FIFA. He won 37.66 percent of all votes, ahead of Messi with 15.76 percent and Neuer with 15.72 percent, FIFA said. Germany’s Nadine Kessler won the women’s World Player of the Year.