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Altidore joins Toronto FC from Sunderland in swap deal with Defoe

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjj7TfD55iED_neOoWXXUjHG1QzcH1eZ7yu_YiI8Z8xMi3qTtcqRIVjJ9Hb8suLrUUXn1AXJEqe2buJWDyIg3WvnRJWn0AT7xXzoWZKf2UE9UsVIGGr4fVbrHpxlxf6HO6Dloef1uY1wpo/s1600/B7fAfXrIcAAVAlm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjj7TfD55iED_neOoWXXUjHG1QzcH1eZ7yu_YiI8Z8xMi3qTtcqRIVjJ9Hb8suLrUUXn1AXJEqe2buJWDyIg3WvnRJWn0AT7xXzoWZKf2UE9UsVIGGr4fVbrHpxlxf6HO6Dloef1uY1wpo/s1600/B7fAfXrIcAAVAlm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px;">Toronto FC</div><a name="more"></a> have completed the signing of Jozy Altidore from Sunderland.<span style="line-height: 23.8234443664551px;">, with</span><span style="line-height: 23.8234443664551px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 23.8234443664551px;">Jermain Defoe moving to Sunderland.</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="line-height: 23.8234443664551px;">The</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> Report was confirmed on Friday. Even though </span><span style="color: #373737; font-family: 'Lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">part of the deal terms were not revealed.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px;">"I want to instantly show the fans that I'm here for a reason," Altidore said at a news conference on Friday. "I'm here to help the team get better.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px;">"I'm very hungry to succeed. I wouldn't have come here for any other reason."-Altidore</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Altidore arrived in Toronto on Thursday from England, where he spent an unsuccessful 18th-month spell with Sunderland. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px;">The swap deal between the clubs was agreed on earlier in the week.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 16px;">Is this a nice swap?</div><div class="cards-base cards-multimedia customisable-border" data-publisher-id="73412535" data-scribe="component:card" data-video-content-id="556124724166946816" style="-webkit-transition: margin-top 0.3s ease-out; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); border-left-style: solid; border-right-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); border-right-style: solid; border-width: 0px; color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Roboto, 'Segoe UI', Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin-top 0.3s ease-out;"><div class="media" style="background-color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 6px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><a class="photo-link  box-0" data-scribe="element:photo" href="http://twitter.com/torontofc/status/556124728327667716/photo/1" style="color: #707070; 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Altidore joins Toronto FC from Sunderland in swap deal with Defoe

Toronto FC have completed the signing of Jozy Altidore from Sunderland. , with Jermain Defoe moving to Sunderland. The Report was confir...

Official: Ibe recalled by Liverpool

Unknown 0 Premier League, Transfer News 4:50 AM

<div id="LeftSideBar" style="float: left; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; padding-left: 9px;"><div id="TagMarg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); margin-top: 6px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px; width: 114px;"><div id="LeftTagCloud" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: url(http://assets3.lfcimages.com/it/BgTagCloudLeft.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-size: initial; padding: 6px 5px 8px; width: 104px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div id="Content" style="background-color: white; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 8px 0px 9px; width: 517px;"><div class="ArticleContent content-link-builder news-content" style="height: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyzY3XhXhIiXjClmpTZ7tBeyfTBLF3uOOWy1q3BpuJcQoCyGK-_trMqMsags0-ALPr0AJXHbgHUNAY-tW7O39qyeBdebzOSv9yEesgoivgbxDc7Lu7FitMFdtiuQr5ni1dYJ3yG30vjC-/s1600/download+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyzY3XhXhIiXjClmpTZ7tBeyfTBLF3uOOWy1q3BpuJcQoCyGK-_trMqMsags0-ALPr0AJXHbgHUNAY-tW7O39qyeBdebzOSv9yEesgoivgbxDc7Lu7FitMFdtiuQr5ni1dYJ3yG30vjC-/s1600/download+(3).jpg" /></a></div><div class="author-box" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 10px 0px;">Author: John I. Ojo</div><div class="author-box" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 10px 0px;"><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/SoccerGlee1">@soccerglee1</a></div><div class="author-box" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 10px 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Liverpool</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;"> FC confirmed  that Jordon Ibe has be</span><br /><a name="more"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;">en recalled from his loan spell with Championship side Derby County.</span></div><div class="cmsContent content-link-builder" id="cmsContentId" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><div class="ArticleRight" style="float: right !important; height: auto; margin-left: 10px; padding-right: 9px; width: 257px;"></div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">The 19-year-old joined the Rams on a temporary deal last August and made 24 appearances in all competitions, contributing five goals.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">All of his strikes were registered in league football, helping Derby reach their current position of second place in England's second tier.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Ibe now returns to Liverpool and becomes available for immediate selection with the Reds, who will play against Aston Villa in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday</div></div></div></div>

Official: Ibe recalled by Liverpool

Author: John I. Ojo @soccerglee1 Liverpool FC confirmed that Jordon Ibe has be en recalled from his loan spell with Championship side Derb...

Has Torres come Back to his Golden Form?

Unknown 0 Cops del rey 2:54 PM

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9i0VQMRH3H47zPCwO5ZGN2xDOHlU7AKo95xrk5R8yLuLv1nO8JLMRkARhD6MxJ6LofOFnv_HjSwxDada31fqr-P8lEzICQNfLBTwyifvWNUAYVEogpu3_qXiQLc82dUETEXAg0KDdOI_R/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9i0VQMRH3H47zPCwO5ZGN2xDOHlU7AKo95xrk5R8yLuLv1nO8JLMRkARhD6MxJ6LofOFnv_HjSwxDada31fqr-P8lEzICQNfLBTwyifvWNUAYVEogpu3_qXiQLc82dUETEXAg0KDdOI_R/s1600/download.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.625em; line-height: 1.30769231em; padding: 0px 1.15384615em;">Fernando Torres</div><a name="more"></a> has scored twice for Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Copa Del Rey semi-final with city neighbours Real.<br /><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.625em; line-height: 1.30769231em; padding: 0px 1.15384615em;">Already 2-0 up after the first game at the Vicente Calderon, the former  Chelsea Striker had no time to waste  in extending his Atletico Madrid's lead, by placing a volley past Keylor Navas in the Real goal in the first minute of the match.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.625em; line-height: 1.30769231em; padding: 0px 1.15384615em;">Sergio Ramos headed an equaliser during the first half, but Torres doubled his tally in the first minute of the second half, latching on to Antoine Griezmann's through ball and finishing under the keeper. He was substituted after 57 minutes, with the score 2-2 after Cristiano Ronaldo again equalised for the home side.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; font-family: 'PT Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.625em; line-height: 1.30769231em; padding: 0px 1.15384615em;">The double are Torres' first goals since returning to Atletico on an 18-month loan deal from AC Milan, who completed his permanent signing from Chelsea.</div>

Has Torres come Back to his Golden Form?

Fernando Torres has scored twice for Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Copa Del Rey semi-final with city neighbours Real. Already ...

Omg I Cant believe this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unknown 0 Premier League, Transfer News 8:33 AM

<img alt="Wilfried Bony" height="225" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80265000/jpg/_80265569_bonynew.jpg" width="400" /><br /><h2><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.0966606140137px;">Manchester City have completed the signing of Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony for £28m.<a name="more"></a></span><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">Bony has agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal at Etihad Stadium through to 2019 and will wear the number 14 shirt.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">"It's a great feeling for me, it's a big honour to be here and it's a great challenge," the 26-year-old said.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">The two clubs agreed the terms of the transfer at the weekend, with £25m cash up front and a further £3m in performance-related add-ons.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="line-height: 34.8947982788086px;">Bony joined Swansea for £12m from Vitesse Arnhem in 2013 and was the Premier League's top scorer in 2014 with 20 goals.</span></div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">The deal makes Bony one of the most expensive African footballers in history.</div></h2><br />

Omg I Cant believe this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Manchester City have completed the signing of Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony for £28m. Bony has agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal at Et...

And the FIFA Puskas Award Goes to James

Unknown 0 Puskas 11:22 AM

And the Award goes to James<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><img alt="James scoops up FIFA Puskas Award" height="221" src="http://static.goal.com/808300/808362_heroa.jpg" width="320" />James Rodriguez<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> has won the FIFA Puskas Award following his wondergoal in Colombia's World Cup win over Uruguay, finishing ahead of Stephanie Roche and Netherlands international </span><a href="http://www.goal.com/en-us/people/netherlands/2841/robin-van-persie?ICID=TP_TST_30" style="background-color: white; color: #007954; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Robin van Persie</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The Real Madrid star enjoyed a sublime World Cup, with one of his tournament highlights a stunning turn and volley that set Colombia on their way to a 2-0 round-of-16 win over Uruguay.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">James' goal had already been voted as the best of the 2014 World Cup, helping the 23-year-old to claim the Golden Boot prize with a total of six strikes.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The Colombia international follows in the footsteps of illustrious names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Hamit Altintop and Miroslav Stoch having also won the award since its introduction in 2009.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Roche earned her nomination thanks to a wondergoal in Peamount's 2-0 Irish Women's National League win over Wexford Youths.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Van Persie's magnificent header in Netherlands' stunning 5-1 World Cup win over Spain also earned him a place among the final three.</span>

And the FIFA Puskas Award Goes to James

And the Award goes to James James Rodriguez has won the FIFA Puskas Award following his wondergoal in Colombia's World Cup win over Uru...

And the award goes to C. RONALDO

Unknown 0 Ballon d'or 11:17 AM

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>C Ronaldo wins the award for the 3rd time</i></div><a name="more"></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRLXw6gfjiflhzM4DD4yTETLFZhaHkl6v9DLToSRC3TfuJrfnhO:sillyseason.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_top/public/article_images/cristiano-ronaldo-and-the-ballon-dor.jpg?itok%3D37Ll7tYH" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRLXw6gfjiflhzM4DD4yTETLFZhaHkl6v9DLToSRC3TfuJrfnhO:sillyseason.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_top/public/article_images/cristiano-ronaldo-and-the-ballon-dor.jpg%3Fitok%3D37Ll7tYH" width="320" /></a></div><br />Real Madrid<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">attacker </span>Cristiano Ronaldo<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> has won the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or ahead of </span>Bayern Munich <span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">goalkeeper </span>Manuel Neuer<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> and </span>Barcelona<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> forward </span>Lionel Messi<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">, scooping up the prestigious individual award for the third time in his career.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Ronaldo enjoyed a hugely successful 2014, in which he guided Madrid to Champions League glory by netting a record 17 goals in one campaign.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Additionally, the prolific attacker played an integral part in the Santiago Bernabeu side's Copa del Rey win by netting three goals in six appearances, even if he missed the final against Barcelona due to injury.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">On an individual level, the 29-year-old won the Liga top-scorer award by scoring 31 goals in 30 appearances, which also saw him crowned joint-winner of the European Golden Shoe together with Luis Suarez.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Ronaldo becomes the seventh player in history to successfully defend his Ballon d'Or title after Johan Cruyff, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten and Messi.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The Portugal international was first voted the world's best in 2008, when he pipped Messi and Fernando Torres to the coveted trophy. He then had to settle for second spot in 2009, 2011 and 2012 before winning the award a second time in 2013, this time ahead of Messi and Franck Ribery.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The former Manchester United star has moved level with Cruyff, Platini and Van Basten on three wins, with only Messi ahead of him on four Ballon d'Or trophies.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Neuer missed out on the chance to become the first goalkeeper to win the award since Lev Yashin in 1963 as he had to settle for second spot after guiding Germany to World Cup glory and winning the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal with Bayern.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br /><br /><br />