The Barcelona star capped a stunning year with his fifth World Player of the Year gong, beating off competition from team-mate Neymar and Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Lionel Messi has won the 2015 Fifa Ballon d’Or ahead of Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mate Neymar, claiming the prestigious award at Monday’s ceremony in Zurich.
Messi received 41.33 per cent of the votes, with Ronaldo (27.76%) in second place and Neymar (7.86%) third.
It is the Argentina international’s fifth World Player of the Year title – more than any other player in history – and thwarts Ronaldo’s quest to tie his haul of gongs, with the Madrid star having picked up the award in each of the last two seasons.
“It’s a very special moment for me, to be back here on this stage winning another Ballon d’Or after being in the audience watching Cristiano win for two years,” Messi said upon receiving his award.
“It’s incredible that it’s my fifth, it’s much more than anything I dreamed of as a kid.
“I want to thank all those who voted for me first of all. I also want to thank obviously my team-mates, as I always say without them none of this would ever have been possible.
“And lastly I want to thank football for everything it has brought me – both the bad and the good – because it has made me grow and learn always.”
