The Ballon d’Or 2014 Rankings marked another dramatic chapter in the duel for footballing supremacy.
With Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Manuel Neuer all enjoying spectacular seasons, expectations were high.
The award reflected not just goals and flair, but consistency, influence in big matches, and success at both club and international level—including performances in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Who Was Crowned Ballon d’Or 2014?
In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or, his third such win.
He took the top spot decisively, earning 37.66% of the votes. He outperformed Lionel Messi, who came second with 15.76%, and Manuel Neuer, who was just behind Messi, with 15.72%.
That narrow gap between second and third added extra drama to the rankings.
Read also: Ballon d’Or 2008 Rankings: Messi or Ronaldo?
Cristiano Ronaldo d’Or Winner 2014
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2014 was defined by high stakes and high rewards.
At Real Madrid, he was a goalscoring machine in La Liga and the Champions League, helping his club to major titles including La Décima (their 10th European Cup).
His performances in critical matches stood out—they were decisive when it mattered most.
But it wasn’t only at club level. 2014 also featured the World Cup in Brazil.
Although Portugal didn’t win, Ronaldo’s form, his physical conditioning, attacking mindset, and ability to perform under pressure resonated with voters.
Compared to Messi and Neuer, Ronaldo’s trophy haul and match-winning moments nudged him ahead in the voting.
Ballon d’Or Rankings 2014: Top 10 Players
Here are the top 10 players in the 2014 Ballon d’Or Rankings, showing club(s) at the time and their vote percentages:
| Rank | Player | Club(s) in 2014 | Vote Share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | 37.66% |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 15.76% |
| 3 | Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich | 15.72% |
| 4 | Arjen Robben | Bayern Munich | 7.17% |
| 5 | Thomas Müller | Bayern Munich | 5.42% |
| 6 | Philipp Lahm | Bayern Munich | 2.90% |
| 7 | Neymar | Barcelona | 2.21% |
| 8 | James Rodríguez | Monaco / Real Madrid | 1.47% |
| 9 | Toni Kroos | Bayern Munich / Real Madrid | 1.43% |
| 10 | Ángel Di María | Real Madrid / Manchester United | 1.29% |
Beyond the Top 10 & Key Takeaways
While the top 10 players grabbed most of the spotlight, the voting list included many more outstanding performers.
Don’t miss: Ballon d’Or Rankings 2013 – Top 3 Players
Players like Diego Costa, Gareth Bale, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Yaya Touré, Mario Götze, Andrés Iniesta, and others also made strong cases through their clubs, international tournaments, and consistency.
Some takeaways from Ballon d’Or 2014 Rankings:
- The margin between second and third was extremely slim—Messi ahead of Neuer by only 0.04%.
- The importance of both club success (especially Real Madrid’s Champions League win) and international performance (World Cup involvement) was clear.
- Voting distribution showed depth—many top players from different leagues were acknowledged, not just La Liga or Bundesliga superstars.
The 2014 Ballon d’Or Rankings cemented Cristiano Ronaldo’s place among the legends, in a year where performances were intensely scrutinized and competition was fierce.
Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer were almost equal in the eyes of voters, but Ronaldo’s decisive moments and titles made the difference.
