Ribéry pips Messi, Ronaldo to win UEFA best player

Bayern München midfielder Franck Ribéry has been voted the 2012/13 UEFA Best Player in Europe by a panel of leading football journalists in Monaco.

Ribery beat off competition from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldoto be crowned as Uefa’s Best Player in Europe

The 30-year-old French international capped off a magnificent year by being presented with the prestigious award following on from the draw for the Champions League group stages.

Ribery was instrumental in Bayern’s Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Champions League treble in 2012/13 and was voted Uefa Player of the Year by the continents football journalists.

The individual honour has been ran for the past three seasons, and was previously won by Messi in 2010/11 and club teammate Andres Iniesta the following year.

Upon accepting the award, Ribery said, “It’s a very special moment to be standing here this evening. I want to thank all of my team-mates from FC Bayern München, my family and my kids.”

Ribery will have little time to celebrate the accolade as he’ll soon be en route to Prague, where his Bayern side are preparing to take on Chelsea for the Uefa Super Cup tomorrow night.

The former Marseille man has been at the Allianz Arena since 2007, over which time he’s collected three league titles, three German cups and last seasons Champions league trophy.


Source: Vanguard Nigeria