Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Nadine Angerer has received the highest personal accolade in the sport, winning the FIFA Ballon d’Or for World Player of the Year at the official awards ceremony in Zurich overnight.
Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Nadine Angerer has received the highest personal accolade in the sport, winning the FIFA Ballon d-Or for World Player of the Year at the official awards ceremony in Zurich overnight.
Angerer won the award for her incredible achievements in 2013 which included captaining Germany to a UEFA European Championships victory – saving two penalties in the final – and subsequently being named the UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe.
“I have to say that I-m a little surprised, but very thankful,” Angerer said.
“I have to thank everybody that voted for me and I just want to pay my respects to Marta and Abby who have had an incredible year too.”
The FIFA Ballon d-Or is voted by national team coaches and captains and selected international media representatives and the 35-year-old claimed the 2013 gong on 612 points ahead of last year-s winner Abby Wambach of the USA (539 points) five-time victor Marta from Brazil (493 points).
Portugal and Real Madrid-s Cristiano Ronaldo (1,365 points) won the men-s equivalent of the 2013 FIFA Ballon d-Or ahead of Lionel Messi (1,205 points) and Franck Ribéry (1,127 points).
Angerer will return to Australia later in the week, ahead of Brisbane Roar-s Westfield W-League away match against Sydney FC on Sunday and next week-s double header with the club-s Hyundai A-League team at Suncorp Stadium.
