Cristiano Ronaldo voted FIFA player of year

Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA World Player of the Year award Monday. The accolade completes a hat trick of titles for Ronaldo, who was honoured as the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year in August before collecting the Ballon d’Or last month.

"

“It is an overwhelming moment, a very special moment in my life,” Ronaldo said. “I would like to say to my mother and sister that the fireworks can be fired off now.”

"

Ronaldo is the second Portuguese to receive the award, Luis Figo won in 2001 and the first English based player.

Ronaldo received 136 first-place votes and 935 points in a worldwide poll of national team captains and coaches. He was followed by Barcelona and Argentina midfielder Lionel Messi (678) and Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Torres (203), with the results announced by Brazilian great Pele.

AC Milan and Brazil midfielder Kaka, the 2007 winner, was fourth (183), followed by Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez (155), Liverpool and England midfielder Stephen Gerrard (98) and Barcelona and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o (58),