Cristiano Ronaldo has won his fifth Ballon d’Or award, beating Lionel Messi to the prize to match his Barcelona rival’s record haul.
The organiser, France Football, announced Ronaldo as the winner in a ceremony in Paris on Thursday evening after he was voted the world’s best player by a selection of leading journalists, national coaches and their captains.
The accolade caps another trophy-laden year for the 32-year-old, having spearheaded Madrid’s run to the La Liga title with 25 league goals and claimed the fourth Champions League winners’ medal of his career – a tournament in which he displayed his ruthless goal scoring at its best.
