Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo won a record-equalling fifth Ballon d'Or award for the year's best player on Thursday.
The
Real Madrid forward's second successive win drew him level alongside
Barcelona rival Lionel Messi on five Ballon d'Ors, after beating the
Argentinian and Brazilian Neymar.
The 32-year-old was the
top-scorer in last season's Champions League as Real successfully
defended the trophy with victory over Juventus in June, and also led the
Spanish giants to their first La Liga title in five years.
“Of
course I feel happy. This is something I look forward to every year,”
Ronaldo said at the ceremony at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
“The
trophies won last year helped to win this award. Thanks to the Real
Madrid team-mates. And I want to thank the rest of the people who helped
me reach this level.” Ronaldo, who also won the FIFA Men's Player of
the Year award in October, added the 2017 Ballon d'Or to his previous
wins in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
The prestigious France
Football magazine award is decided upon by a journalists' ballot, with
each naming a top five from a list of 30.
