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Cristiano Ronaldo wins 3rd FIFA Player of the Year award

Cristiano Ronaldo, left, of Portugal fools around with presenter Kate Abdo during the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2014 gala held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, Monday, Jan. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Ennio Leanza) Cristiano Ronaldo, left, of Portugal fools around with presenter Kate Abdo during the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2014 gala held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, Monday, Jan. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Ennio Leanza)

By Associated Press January 12, 2015 1 min read

ZURICH (AP) – Cristiano Ronaldo has won the FIFA Player of the Year award for the second straight year and third time overall.

The Portuguese forward, who led Real Madrid to its record 10th European title, received 37.66 percent of votes of national team coaches and captains to add to the FIFA player of the year awards he won in 2008 and 2013.

Lionel Messi, the Argentine star forward on Barcelona, was second in voting announced Monday with 15.76 percent, just ahead of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (15.72), who helped Germany to the World Cup title. Messi won the award four straight times from 2009-12.

German midfielder Nadine Kessler won the Women’s Player of the Year for the first time, getting 17.52 percent to beat out Brazilian forward Marta (14.16) and American forward Abby Wambach (13.33). Marta was a five-time winner from 2006-10 and Wambach won in 2012.