Freund, 26, claimed the title by virtue of his nine season triumphs to Prevc's four.

Prevc needed to win on Sunday to secure the overall title but came second with 433.6 points, ahead of Norway's Rune Velta, who finished third.

Another Solvenian, Jurji Tepes, won the season finale on Planica's flying hill with 436.4 points from jumps of 230.5 and a day-best 244 meters.

Freund becomes the third German to win the crystal globe - Martin Schmitt won the title in 1999 and 2002, and Jens Weissflog in 1984.

On Saturday, host country Slovenia won a ski flying team event. Jurij Tepes, Anze Semenic, Robert Kranjec and Peter Prevc earned a total of 848.4 points to defeat Austria by 43.3 points. Norway came third with 784 points.

shs/tj (dpa, AFP)