SoccerNews.com

Bayern Munich's French midfielder Franck Ribery has expressed his surprise at being voted only 16th in the Ballon d'Or European Footballer of the Year award.

The coveted trophy went to Manchester United's winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Ribery said he had no argument with that choice.

“But to be honest, I am disappointed with my own placing,” he told L'Equipe newspaper.

“I deserved better than that. But that's the way it is. You just have to live with it. It won't stop me working just as hard as before to be even better.”

Ribery on Sunday was named by the France Football magazine as French footballer of the year for the second straight year.

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