Cristiano Ronaldo's 2013 Ballon d'Or victory remains one of football's most debated award decisions. The Portuguese superstar produced extraordinary individual numbers for Real Madrid and Portugal, but many fans believe Franck Ribéry deserved the 2013 Ballon d'Or after playing a crucial role in Bayern Munich's historic treble-winning season.
The controversy centred on two different interpretations of individual excellence. While Ronaldo delivered remarkable goalscoring performances, Ribéry combined individual brilliance with major team honours, winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and UEFA Champions League. Here is a closer look at why Ronaldo won the award and why Ribéry remains a popular alternative.
1. Franck Ribéry's Historic 2012-13 Season With Bayern Munich
Ribéry's strongest argument for winning the 2013 Ballon d'Or was his contribution to one of the greatest seasons in Bayern Munich's history. Operating primarily as a left winger, the Frenchman was a key creative force in Jupp Heynckes' dominant team.
Bayern won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and UEFA Champions League, becoming the first German club to complete the treble. Ribéry's pace, dribbling and creativity helped Bayern overwhelm opponents across domestic and European competitions.
Franck Ribéry's 2012-13 achievements
Bundesliga: Winner, as Bayern finished with a record 91 points.
DFB-Pokal: Winner, defeating Stuttgart 3-2 in the final.
Champions League: Winner, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the final.
Champions League statistics: A goal and five assists during the campaign.
Individual recognition: Named UEFA Best Player in Europe for the 2012-13 season.
Ribéry was instrumental in Bayern's European campaign, particularly during their emphatic 7-0 aggregate victory over Barcelona in the semi-finals. His ability to beat defenders, create opportunities and contribute to Bayern's relentless attacking football made him one of the standout performers of the season.
Unlike a player judged primarily on goals, Ribéry influenced matches through his movement, chance creation and ability to open up defensive structures. His performances helped Bayern establish themselves as Europe's dominant team in 2013.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo's Exceptional Goalscoring in 2013
Ronaldo's case for the Ballon d'Or was built around extraordinary individual production. Although Real Madrid failed to win a major trophy in the 2013 calendar year, the forward delivered an astonishing number of goals across club and international football.
He finished 2013 with 69 goals in 59 appearances across all competitions, making it one of the most prolific calendar years of his career. His performances were especially impressive in the Champions League and Portugal's crucial World Cup qualifying play-offs.
Ronaldo's key achievements in 2013
Goalscoring: Scored 69 goals in 59 appearances across all competitions.
Champions League: Scored 12 goals during the 2012-13 campaign, finishing as the competition's top scorer.
Portugal: Scored all four of Portugal's goals across their two-legged World Cup qualifying play-off against Sweden.
Individual performances: Delivered consistent goalscoring displays despite Real Madrid's lack of major silverware.
Ronaldo's four-goal contribution against Sweden was particularly significant. He scored a hat-trick in the second leg, securing Portugal's place at the 2014 World Cup.
His numbers made a compelling case for individual recognition. However, critics argued that Ribéry's achievements across multiple competitions deserved greater consideration, particularly given Bayern's dominance and the Frenchman's influence on their treble-winning campaign.
3. Ronaldo vs Ribéry: Who Had the Better Case?
The comparison between Ronaldo and Ribéry highlights the central debate surrounding the 2013 Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo's goalscoring numbers were extraordinary, but Ribéry's contribution to Bayern's historic achievements gave him a strong argument for the award.
1. Major club trophies in 2013: Ronaldo won no major team trophy during the calendar year, while Ribéry won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League with Bayern Munich.
2. Goalscoring: Ronaldo scored 69 goals in 59 appearances across all competitions in 2013. Ribéry was not as prolific, scoring 27 in 62 appearances, but his creativity was immense to Bayern's success as he had also recorded 25 assists as well that season.
3. Champions League: Ronaldo scored 12 goals in the 2012-13 campaign, finishing as the competition's top scorer. Ribéry helped Bayern win the trophy, defeating Borussia Dortmund in the final. He ended the tournament with a goal and 5 assists.
4. Individual recognition: Ronaldo's remarkable scoring record strengthened his case, while Ribéry won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award for the 2012-13 season.
5. Playing style: Ronaldo excelled as a prolific goalscorer and attacking match-winner. Ribéry operated as a creative winger, using his dribbling, pace and chance creation to unlock defences.
6. Biggest argument for the Ballon d'Or: Ronaldo's case rested on individual brilliance and goalscoring statistics. Ribéry's case centred on Bayern's historic treble and his decisive contribution to their dominance.
4. Why Was Ronaldo's 2013 Ballon d'Or Win Controversial?
The controversy intensified because Ronaldo won despite Bayern's remarkable trophy haul. He received 27.99% of the vote, finishing ahead of Lionel Messi (24.72%) and Ribéry (23.36%). Ribéry's third-place finish surprised many observers who believed the Frenchman deserved recognition for his achievements with Bayern.
Another major talking point was the voting process. FIFA extended the original voting deadline in November 2013, allowing additional time for ballots to be submitted. The decision attracted criticism because it came during Ronaldo's outstanding performances in Portugal's World Cup qualifying play-off against Sweden.
Ribéry also received the most support from journalists, meaning he would have won under the pre-2010 voting system, which relied exclusively on an international panel of journalists. However, the combined voting system also included national-team captains and coaches, whose votes reportedly helped Ronaldo finish first.
Conclusion: Did Franck Ribéry Deserve the 2013 Ballon d'Or?
Ronaldo was a deserving contender thanks to his extraordinary goalscoring record and match-winning performances. However, Franck Ribéry had a compelling argument for the 2013 Ballon d'Or, having played a crucial role in Bayern's historic treble.
Had the award placed greater emphasis on team trophies and performances across an entire season, Ribéry might have finished first. Ultimately, the debate illustrates the difficulty of comparing individual statistics with collective success.
Ronaldo's victory was defensible, but Ribéry's third-place finish remains one of the most frequently discussed Ballon d'Or decisions in modern football.
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