Confirmed the favoritism that was assigned to the advanced Real Madrid and Portugal , author of 69 goals in 59 games during the past year , figures which served to overcome Franck Ribéry and Argentine Lionel Messi in the suffrage decided by the coaches and captains national and a group of journalists .
Voted one of the top two spots for the sixth time in the last seven years, the Madeiran so repeats the triumph achieved in 2008 , when he was ahead Messi , the winner of the four previous editions of the trophy, and Fernando Torres .
Eusebio was the first Portuguese player to receive the Golden Ball , being awarded in 1965 , the tenth edition of the award created by the French magazine France Football and stimulated by a group of journalists led by Gabriel Hanot , former international and French coach . Then it took until 2000 for a Portuguese to regain the vote , then by Luís Figo .
Ronaldo is the first national sportsman to win the Golden Ball for the second time . Proof of the quality and impact of the Portuguese in the sport is the fact that he was elected one of the top two spots for the sixth time in the last seven years.
