<p>Portuguese star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who led La Liga's Real Madrid to victory in the 2013-14 European Champions League, was voted as UEFA's Best Player of the Year for the first time.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The 29-year-old Thursday night beat Bayern Munich duo Manuel Neuer and Arjen Robben for the European award designed for season's top performer, reports Xinhua.<br /><br />Ronaldo collected 24 votes from a panel of European football journalists to claim the title in Monte Carlo just after the draw was made for the Champions League group stage.<br /><br />Neuer was second on 19 votes, ahead of Robben who took nine.<br /><br />"I'm really, really happy," Ronaldo said upon being presented the award by UEFA president Michel Platini.<br /><br />"I have to say thank you to my teammates, to my family, my friends. I don't have this trophy in my museum - I'll put it there straight away."<br /><br />Ronaldo bagged 56 goals and made 15 assists for Real Madrid and Portugal last season, including a record-setting 17 goals in 11 European games as Carlo Ancelotti's side stormed to their 10th Champions League title.<br /><br />French star Franck Ribery had won the award last year.</p>
<p>Portuguese star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who led La Liga's Real Madrid to victory in the 2013-14 European Champions League, was voted as UEFA's Best Player of the Year for the first time.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The 29-year-old Thursday night beat Bayern Munich duo Manuel Neuer and Arjen Robben for the European award designed for season's top performer, reports Xinhua.<br /><br />Ronaldo collected 24 votes from a panel of European football journalists to claim the title in Monte Carlo just after the draw was made for the Champions League group stage.<br /><br />Neuer was second on 19 votes, ahead of Robben who took nine.<br /><br />"I'm really, really happy," Ronaldo said upon being presented the award by UEFA president Michel Platini.<br /><br />"I have to say thank you to my teammates, to my family, my friends. I don't have this trophy in my museum - I'll put it there straight away."<br /><br />Ronaldo bagged 56 goals and made 15 assists for Real Madrid and Portugal last season, including a record-setting 17 goals in 11 European games as Carlo Ancelotti's side stormed to their 10th Champions League title.<br /><br />French star Franck Ribery had won the award last year.</p>