ZURICH (AP):

Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for 2014 yesterday, earning the title of world's best football player for a third time.

He easily beat four-time winner Lionel Messi and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in a vote of national team captains and coaches from FIFA's 209 member countries, plus selected journalists.

"I want to become one of the greatest players of all time," Ronaldo said through a translator in his acceptance speech. "Of course, this requires a lot of effort and I hope to get there."

Ronaldo received 37.66 per cent of total points in the ballot, more than twice as many as Messi, who was second, with 15.76 per cent.

Neuer, who won the World Cup with Germany and the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich, received 15.72 per cent. Voters chose their top three preferences from a 23-man candidates list.

61 goals

Ronaldo retained football's highest individual honour after scoring 61 goals for Real Madrid and Portugal last year. His record tally of 17 in a Champions League season helped his club win an unprecedented 10th European Cup title and overshadowed a relatively disappointing World Cup campaign.

Ronaldo was more composed for this widely expected victory than during his tearful speech one year ago when ending Messi's four-year reign. He first won the award for 2008 as a Manchester United player.

"It has been an unforgettable year," Ronaldo said after taking a deep breath.

After helping Real win the Club World Cup last month, the 29-year-old star also unveiled a statue of himself in his home island, Madeira.

Germany won the other three major individual awards to compensate for Neuer's defeat.

Joachim Loew was voted coach of the year for guiding the national team to its first World Cup title since 1990 and first major trophy in 18 years.

Loew beat the two club coaches from Madrid: Italian Carlo Ancelotti of Real and Atlético's Diego Simeone from Argentina.

Germany midfielder Nadine Kessler beat two former winners - United States forward Abby Wambach and Marta of Brazil - to be named the best women's player in 2014.

James Rodriguez's volley for Colombia against Uruguay at the World Cup beat Ireland forward Stephanie Roche's spectacular strike for Peamount United in an amateur domestic league match in October 2013 for the most beautiful goal, known as the Puskas Award.