Cristiano Ronaldo Wins Ballon d’Or for 5th Time

Cristiano Ronaldo Wins Ballon d’Or for 5th Time

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the ballon d’Or for a fifth time to equal Barcelona rival, Lionel Messi as the players with the most gongs.

Ronaldo, 32, was named the best player on the planet after a list of 30 players was whittled down by France Football, owners of the prestigious award.

The Real Madrid superstar beat eternal rival, Messi and Paris Saint-Germain star, Neymar to the coveted accolade – the same players he edged out on the podium to win the Fifa Best Player award back in October.

It’s a second straight ballon d’Or award for the former Manchester United winger after he picked up a fourth award this time last year.

It was yet another prolific year for Ronaldo as he bagged 49 goals and 15 assists to power Real Madrid to the Champions League and La Liga double, while also top-scoring as Portugal qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He also finished as the Champions League top scorer for a record fifth straight season, while also becoming the first player to reach a century of goals in the elite competition.

Messi, who had a strong finish to the year, came in second while Neymar placed third after a prolific year for club and country.

Portugual captain Ronaldo had travelled in style to the French capital where the award was to be presented, a day after he unveiled a new pair of Nike boots in anticipation of the honour.

There were fears that Messi had beaten him to the honour after a leaked image came out last month, but in the end Ronaldo deservedly takes the prize.