Franck Ribery can add another award to his cabinet for this year after it was announced that the Bayern Munich star had been chosen as Bundesliga Player of 2013.
The news was announced by GOAL! The Bundesliga Magazine, which is the DFL's weekly TV show:
The award is decided by the 36 captains of the clubs from Germany's top two tiers, the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga.
This announcement is but another crowning achievement in what has been a massive year for the Frenchman, who helped lead Bayern Munich to a triumphant treble both domestically and in European competition.
The Champions League winner was recently named as one of the three finalists for the 2013 Ballon d'Or, and will feel all the more confident of going up against Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi with this trophy under his belt.
Bayern's official English-translated account congratulated their star:
Counting Bundesliga matches only, Ribery has 12 goals and 17 assists to his name in 2013, per Transfermarkt.co.uk, showing the fine balance he's able to strike between provisional impact and making the difference in front of goal himself.
Of the three Ballon d'Or finalists, one might argue that it's Ribery who boasts the best blend of goals and assists, coupled with the ability to put trophies in his club's cabinet.
After simmering slightly in the wake of their 2009/10 Champions League final appearance, Bayern have launched an assault on the rest of Germany and Europe over the past two years and now have one of the best managers at their helm in Pep Guardiola.
Having worked with some of the world's best, including Messi, during his days at Barcelona, Guardiola recently called it "an honour" to be able to train Ribery, per Goal.com:
For me it is an honour to be Ribery's coach.
Franck has an unbelievable heart to play this game and is humble enough to track back up to 40 metres time and time again, to follow his opponent and help the team.
For me it is an honour to be able to train him.
It's perhaps that willingness to defend that sometimes goes unnoticed with Ribery, eclipsed by the sheer mass of goals being scored by Ronaldo and Messi.
One could pick out just about any player from among Bayern's regulars who might have challenged for the Player of the Year award; such was the success story of their 2013.
However, Ribery still manages to stand out among what is a very, very good bunch.