In the end, it was expected. Ever since FIFA decided to extend the voting for Ballon d'Or 2013, most believed that Cristiano Ronaldo was the frontrunner for football's most coveted individual prize. After all, the extension came just after Ronaldo had single-handedly taken his country to the World Cup.
Much maligned for his 'poor form' for Portugal, Ronaldo put Sweden to the sword. A splendid hat-trick which dwarfed Zlatan Ibrahimovic's brace and put Ronaldo in the spotlight as the captain of his national side and not just as a player of a football club.
Many say until that point, Ribery was the front-runner for the Golden Ball. Ronaldo's Champions League form also went a long way in establishing him as the top footballer in the world right now.
For the last six years, the top scorer in Europe has inevitably won the Ballon d'Or. In 2007 it was Kaka, followed by Ronaldo in 2008. Messi did it four times in a row after that.
In 2011-12 Messi scored 14, in 2012-13 Ronaldo scored 12. Four more than the next best goal scorer, Robert Lewandowski. This year too Ronaldo leads the list of goal scorers with 9 in the group stages.
To be honest, Ronaldo also had a bit of good fortune. But then fortune favours the brave, they say.
Messi's recent spate of injuries gave Ronaldo the opportunity to overtake the Argentine, and the former Manchester United star grabbed the opportunity with both 'feet'.
2013 had been a bad year for Messi. He saw Barcelona crash out of Europe, embarrassed by Bayern Munich. And another muscle problem picked up against Real Betis ruled Messi out for the remainder of the season.
Messi ended the year with 42 goals, well short of Ronaldo's tally of 66.
Ronaldo really is a goal machine. A sublime footballer and an athlete par excellence. His fitness levels are amazing and he peaked just in time for the World Cup.
And really after the Ballon d'Or, winning the ultimate football team prize for his country would be a dream come true for Ronaldo. It's the one stage where he has not performed up to potential.
It would also firmly establish CR7 as a legend of the modern game.
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