In 2013, the Ballon d’Or was won by Cristiano Ronaldo. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, despite acknowledging his own talent and goal-scoring prowess with Paris Saint-Germain, considered three serious contenders for the award: Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).
Ibrahimovic praised Ribéry for his fantastic performances, noting that he had won everything that year and had been a leader in those victories. Messi, according to Ibrahimovic, was a raw talent born to play and not a product of any specific training. He also acknowledged Ronaldo’s incredible playing style and the high level at which all three contenders maintained themselves.
The Ballon d’Or verdict for 2013 was announced in January 2014, and Cristiano Ronaldo emerged as the winner of the prestigious individual distinction.
