The award was decided after a poll in which the captains and head coaches of national teams, as well as international media representatives selected by French football magazine France Football. Cristiano Ronaldo won the voting. This is the third FIFA Ballon d’Or of Cristiano Ronaldo. He won the trophy in 2008 and 2013.
Argentine Messi and Manuel Neuer were the other candidates for the prize, officially known as the FIFA Ballon d’Or.
German Nadine Kessler claimed the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala.
James Rodriguez has won the 2014 FIFA Puskás Award. FIFA tournament volunteers has been presented the 2014 FIFA Fair Play award.
Germany coach Joachim Loew secured the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football award. Loew won the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Ralf Kellermann led the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football category.
At 89 years old, Hiroshi Kagawa, a journalist from Japan, received the FIFA Presidential Award from President Joseph S. Blatter in recognition of his exemplary record of service to sport, both on the field and behind the scenes.