Ribéry wins UEFA Best Player award.
Bayern Munich's attacking midfielder Franck Ribéry outshone rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2012/13 European season.
MONTE CARLO, Reuters Bayern Munich's attacking midfielder Franck Ribéry won the UEFA Best Player award for the 2012/13 European season, beating out competitors Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The victory is a recognition of his work in Bayern's fantastic season, which included the Champions League, the German Championship and the German Cup.
The Frenchman was the first player from a club other than Barcelona or Real Madrid to appear among the top three since the award was created by the governing body of European football in 2011.
Argentine Messi won the inaugural award, followed by Spaniard Andrés Iniesta, his Barcelona teammate, last year.
Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, from Real Madrid, were also among the three finalists in the last two years.
(Reporting by Brian Homewood)