Lionel Messi didn't even vote for Cristiano Ronaldo in his top three choices for the Fifa Ballon d'Or awards, as tactical voting dominated players and coaches' selections once again.
Ronaldo, who finished second to Messi for the second successive year, was overlooked in favour of the Argentine's Barcelona teammates Andrés Iniesta and Xavi as well as countryman and Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero.
Votes are cast by the coach and captain of each nation and a member of that country's media.
Ronaldo with Iniesta and Messi
The Portuguese captain designated voting duties to international colleague Bruno Alves, who duly voted Ronaldo first, excluding Messi and opting for Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie behind him.
Paulo Bento, the Portugal coach, also nominated his captain first but did include Messi in third place with Falcao sandwiched in between the duo.
FIFA Gala
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Portugals Cristiano Ronaldo, right, arrives with his girlfriend Irina Shayk, left, on the red carpet prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Keystone/Walter Bieri) (credit:AP)
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Sweden's Pia Sundhage, former coach of the US women's soccer team and current head coach of Sweden's women's soccer team, arrives on the red carpet prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Keystone/Walter Bieri) (credit:AP)
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Brazil's Marta, right, and Italy's Fabio Cannavaro, left, arrive on the red carpet prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or soccer Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. (KAP Photo/Keystone/Walter Bieri) (credit:AP)
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Argentina's Lionel Messi arrives on the red carpet prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or soccer Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Keystone/Walter Bieri) (credit:AP)
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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 07: (L-R) Joseph Blatter, FIFA president and actor Gerard Depardieu pose during the red carpet arrivals for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012 on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu takes a picture upon arrival at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 07: (L-R) Joseph Blatter, FIFA president and actor Gerard Depardieu pose during the red carpet arrivals for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012 on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) shares a joke with FIFA President Joseph Blatter as they arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) points by FIFA President Joseph Blatter as they arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) points by FIFA President Joseph Blatter as they arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (C) arrives at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (C) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu share a joke on arrival at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter (C) arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu share a joke on arrival at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu arrives at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 07: (L-R) Joseph Blatter, FIFA president and actor Gerard Depardieu pose during the red carpet arrivals for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012 on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (R) and French actor Gerard Depardieu wait for the start of the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / OLIVIER MORIN (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 07: (L-R) Joseph Blatter, FIFA president and actor Gerard Depardieu pose during the red carpet arrivals for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012 on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph "Sepp" Blatter, left, and French-Russian actor Gerard Depardieu, right, arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. French actor Gerard Depardieu has received a Russian passport after he sought Russian citizenship as part of his battle against a proposed super tax on millionaires in France. (AP Photo/Keystone/Walter Bieri) (credit:AP)
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FIFA President Joseph "Sepp" Blatter, left, and French-Russian actor Gerard Depardieu, right, arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. French actor Gerard Depardieu has received a Russian passport after he sought Russian citizenship as part of his battle against a proposed super tax on millionaires in France. (AP Photo/Keystone/Steffen Schmidt) (credit:AP)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) speaks with French actor Gerard Depardieu (C) prior to the start of the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph "Sepp" Blatter, left, and French-Russian actor Gerard Depardieu, right, arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. French actor Gerard Depardieu had received a Russian passport after he sought Russian citizenship as part of his battle against a proposed super tax on millionaires in France. (AP Photo/Keystone/Steffen Schmidt) (credit:AP)
Germany coach Joachim Löw selected Mesut Özil and Manuel Neuer in his top two and Spain's Euro 2012-winning maestro Vicente del Bosque opted for captain Iker Casillas.
Steven Gerrard's top three consisted of Messi, Ronaldo and former Liverpool teammate Xabi Alonso with Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland skippers Steve Davis and Robbie Keane also voting for Messi, as well as Wales' Ashley Williams.
Scotland's Darren Fletcher however voted for his ex-United colleague as player of the year.
Wayne Rooney received votes from Georgia and North Korea, in light of some rumours suggesting supreme leader Kim Jong-un is a Manchester United fan.
One of City and Italy striker Mario Balotelli's three third-place votes came from Palestine.