How It Started for Me
So, I woke up this morning thinking about that 2013 Ballon d’Or win. Messi had bagged it four years straight, right? Got me wondering… how did Cristiano Ronaldo actually break that streak? Wasn’t really clear in my head anymore. Wanted to piece that story back together properly, step by step. Grabbed my coffee, fired up the laptop. No grand plan, just planned to dig around.
The Deep Dive Begins
Started simple. Typed stuff like “2013 Ballon d’Or winner” into the search bar. Obvious, right? But that just told me the who. Needed the how. Fell down this rabbit hole:
- Scrolled through dusty old FIFA announcement pages – feels like ancient history now!
- Pulled up match stats from Real Madrid that year. Those numbers…
- Watched clips, lots of clips. That Sweden playoff game still makes me shake my head.
- Dove into forums where fans argued about it back then. Pure nostalgia.
Took ages. My eyes started burning. Had to remind myself to blink.
What Stood Out (The Ugly Truth)
Sorting through all that mess, a few things slapped me in the face:
- Ronaldo was like a machine that entire year. Seriously, his goal stats were just stupid good. For club and country.
- Remember that game against Sweden for World Cup qualification? Hat-trick? That wasn’t just a game; it was him grabbing the award with both hands, screaming “Look at me!”
- No major trophies for Real Madrid that season? Honestly, looking back… doesn’t seem to have mattered one bit. His individual moments were that loud.
- The voting gap? Bigger than I remembered. Way bigger than Messi’s wins before. Changed the script completely.
It wasn’t smooth sailing or luck. It was pure grit, raw performance, and forcing everyone to notice.
Putting My Thoughts Down
After wrestling with all those tabs and videos, I just started typing. Didn’t try to sound fancy. Wanted it raw, like remembering a story over beers. Focused on the journey: his frustration being runner-up, those insane goals (especially that Sweden one), how the voting numbers basically screamed his name.
My Takeaway Now
Finished reading my own notes back. Honestly? Getting that award in 2013 must have tasted sweeter than anything for him after those years chasing Messi’s shadow. It wasn’t about being the best team player that year – other guys maybe had that – but about being an absolute, undeniable force of nature that nobody could ignore. He didn’t just win it; he snatched it. End of story. Makes you respect the sheer bloody-mindedness of it all, even if you’re not his biggest fan.
