He was designated the best European footballer of the year in a ceremony in Zurich on January 13, 2014.

Though he won no collective trophy with club or country during the season, Portuguese born Cristiano Ronaldo was yesterday awarded the golden boot trophy for the best European player of the year.

 His coronation therefore depends solely on his individual talent and accomplishment during the year 2013.

The ex-Manchester United player, who last won in 2008, scored 67 goals in 56 games for club and country; He netted five hat-tricks, including a treble in November's World Cup play-off against Sweden to fire his nation to the final round of the World Cup in Brazil.

He had an edge over the two other contenders in the last trio, Frank Ribery and Lionel Messi because the voting period was extended to November 29, a period during which Lionel Messi was out of play due to injury and during which Ronaldo single-handedly qualified Portugal for the World Cup.

As concerns Ribery who won virtually everything with his club German club side, Bayern, cup, league, champions’ league and club world cup, Ronaldo’s also outsmarted him because his impact is felt more in Real than Ribery’s impact in Bayern.

Ronaldo scored 333 goals in 23 matches with Real Madrid while Ribery scored only 13 goals in 24 matches. The Brazilian legendary player, Pele was also given a compensatory golden boot for his contribution to football and for having won three World Cups.