Ribery is crowned the best player in Europe for the first time.
For the first time since the new Best Player in Europe award was created in 2010, the trophy has been given to a footballer not playing for Barcelona.
Despite both Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo having outstanding goal-scoring seasons once again in 2012/13, the judges decided that Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich should claim the gong.
Messi was pushed into second place, whilst Ronaldo had to settle for third for the third successive year.
Ribery was instrumental in Bayern’s treble-winning campaign last term, which saw the Germans win the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the Champions League.
It was a dominating year for the club and one that will be hard to replicate this time around, with Jupp Heynckes’ men beating Borussia Dortmund to the title with a record six games to spare, as well as triumphing in Europe – again over Dortmund – having knocked out Barca in the semi-finals with an incredible 7-0 aggregate score.
The Frenchman was key to this success, with the 30-year-old and Arjen Robben occupying the flanks for Bayern and tormenting defences in Germany and throughout Europe.
Ribery’s season saw the France international score 11 goals and provide 23 assists in all competitions, but was surprisingly runner-up in the Bundesliga Player of the Year award to team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The winger will be in action on Friday against Chelsea as the Germans battle it out in the Super Cup in what is a repeat of the 2012 Champions League final – an encounter the Blues won on penalties.
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