World Coach of the Year: Jupp Heynckes has another individual award to add to his substantial team collection
World Coach of the Year: Jupp Heynckes has another individual award to add to his substantial team collection

FIFA Ballon d'Or Award - as it happened

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Zurich - It was not destined to be for FC Bayern München flier Franck Ribery as he was edged out in the 2013 vote for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or by Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

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The France international, 30, was on a three-man shortlist alongside Ronaldo and FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who had dominated the stage the past four years.

Seven other awards were up for grabs, with former FC Bayern head coach Jupp Heynckes named World Coach of the Year and three members of his 2013 treble-winning side making the FIFPro World XI team of the year.

bundesliga.com will keep you posted with all the latest from the aftermath of the ceremony in Zurich...

19:55

The Women's World Player of the Year award goes to Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer...

19:48

A special prize now for a very special player: the first ever FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur goes to the unrivalled

Pele

. "I promised my family I would not cry, but I could not help it," he says . "First I must thank God for the health to play for so many years. I was jealous of those guys getting the Ballon d'Or because I couldn't win it as I didn't play in Europe. Now I have my trophy."

19:40

After the Fair Play award goes to the Afghanistan Football Federation, it's Zlatan Ibrahimovic stepping up to the podium next to accept the Puskas Award for his spectacular overhead strike for Sweden against England in November 2012.

19:08

After former International Olympic Committee president, Jacques Rogge picked up the presidential award, Germany's Silvia Neid is honoured as Women's Coach of the Year.

16:30 Two hours until ceremony begins

18:30 The awards ceremony is underway, with eight to be handed out all-told - and the best kept over till last, of course. First up, it's the FIFpro World XI...

18.00Ceremony begins in 30 mins

17:26 Stars from the footballing world are arriving in their droves ready for what is sure to be a memorable evening. The next man to walk the red carpet is another World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane, who says "all three players deserve to be up there". The Frenchman also says that German football is really on the up, with eleven Germany-based players on the shortlist for the FIFPro World XI for 2013. "German football has improved a lot. You only have to look at the success of FC Bayern to see that."

17:18 Former Bayern legend and FIFA World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer has arrived at the Kongresshaus in Zurich and is in no doubt about who he thinks should win the Ballon d'Or. "Lionel Messi didn't have a good year and Ronaldo scored a lot of goals but didn't win anything. Franck Ribery played brilliantly last season and won everything - five trophies - so the only logical result is for him to win."

17:15Ribery has got better and better with each passing campaign in the Bundesliga, but 2013 has to be the pick of the bunch for Bayern's superlative Ballon d'Or candidate. Don't believe us? The proof's in this handy pictorial overview.

17:05 It seems like an eternity since Franck Ribery arrived in Munich back in 2007. Retrace the Frenchman's steps to Bundesliga, European and world stardom right here.



16:20 "I'm still learning about coaching, but it helps if you've played the game," admitted FIFA World Coach of the Year hopeful Jürgen Klopp. "It's about hard work and new ideas [...] I would be delighted if Jupp won the award. He's a role model and it would be a great way to crown his career."

16:12 "It was important to win the Champions League with FC Bayern, but qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil with France was also unforgettable," added Ballon d'Or nominee Franck Ribery. "Qualification was tough, but we're happy to be there. 2013 was an outstanding year [...] I'm delighted to be here, it's an honour for me to be here alongside two great players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi."

16:00Jupp Heynckes said an emotional farewell to the Bundesliga back in May, but he wouldn't have changed it for the world. "Finishing my career against Borussia Mönchengladbach, where I started, was fantastic," he explained. "The reason for the treble was FC Bayern - it was the right club, but also a top team with lots of character [...] Last year was a great time for me to bow out."

15:38 Before the ceremony begins in just three hours time, the three players up for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, as well as the men up for FIFA Coach of the Year, are invited onto the stage for a pre-gala press conference.

15:01 Here's some more visuals of the man in action, courtesy of the Bundesliga's official YouTube channel:

13:38

His coach and sporting director have already professed their support for

Ribery

to win, and now come further words of encouragement from his team-mates, with fellow winger

Arjen Robben

commenting:

13:12

The Ballon d'Or would be not only the most prestigious award for

Ribery

to win but also the last in a long line of awards for his performances in 2013. He has been the Bundesliga's

player of the season so far

, the

Bundesliga Player of the Year 2013

,

France’s Player of the Year 2013

and

2012/13 UEFA Best Player in Europe 2012/13

. Surely it's a logical consequence, then, that he wins this one as well? Here's some more opinion via Twitter about why

Ribery

should be named the world' best player, and it just about hits the nail on the head. What sets

Ribery

apart in 2013 was that he was a team player, attacking and defending. He was also the standout player in the year's best team - what more is there to say?!

12:45

On the list of candidates to form the Team of the Year, meanwhile, are the German names of

Manuel Neuer

,

Lahm

,

Jerome Boateng

,

Bastian Schweinsteiger

(all FC Bayern),

Mats Hummels

,

Marco Reus

(both Borussia Dortmund) and

Mesut Özil

(Arsenal FC), while the Bundesliga is further represented by

Ribery

,

Arjen Robben

,

Dante

,

Mario Mandzukic

and

David Alaba

(all Bayern), as well as

Robert Lewandowski

(Dortmund).

12:30

Lahm

isn't the only one to give the reigning Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League, French and UEFA European Footballer of the Year the thumbs up either. Find out what the likes of Bayern head coach

Pep Guardiola

and Zinedine Zidane think of the French ace with this handy

round-up

. Support for the French wing sensation is coming in from all corners on social media, with this particular fan - based in Munich, one needn't hasten to add - clear in her mind about why

Ribery

should win:

Five trophies in a single calendar year - you can't really argue with that!

12:15

Bayern captain

Philipp Lahm

says there should only be one winner.

Here's why

...

12:00

Ribery

's case to become the first Bayern player to ever lift the FIFA Ballon d'Or is as compelling as they come. Get the lowdown on the Frenchman's superlative year under the spotlight

right here

.