Ronaldo leaves Messi in shade with 3rd Ballon d'Or

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal, a nominee for the 2014 FIFA World Player of the Year, attends a news conference prior to the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony in Zurich January 12, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Ronaldo claimed the award with a total of 37.66 percent of votes, ahead of Messi (15.76 percent) and Neuer ( 15.72 percent), voted by national team captains, coaches plus selected journalists in FIFA's 209 members.

"It has been an incredible year," Ronaldo emotionally said in the award ceremony.

The Germany national team's coach Joachim Low, who led Germany to a deserved triumph at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, was awarded as the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men's Football 2014.