"This is not the end," Ronaldo told reporters last night after collecting the award from Brazilian legend Pele at a ceremony in Zurich. "I want to be back next year to win it again. It's my ambition that has brought me here and I will remain ambitious."

The 23-year-old topped a poll of national team coaches and captains, with Argentina forward Lionel Messi coming second. Liverpool's Spanish striker Fernando Torres was third, ahead of last year’s Brazilian winner, Kaka of AC Milan. Messi’s Barcelona teammate Xavi of Spain was fifth.

Ronaldo is the second Portuguese winner of FIFA's award following Luis Figo in 2001. He was also voted soccer's best player in an October poll of more than 50,000 footballers by FIFPro, the worldwide players union.