Ronaldo moves level with Messi by capturing 5th Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, together again.

Real Madrid’s Portuguese scoring sensation moved level with his perennial Argentine counterpart on Thursday, winning the fifth Ballon d’Or of his illustrious career to equal Messi for the all-time lead.

Ronaldo, 32, captured the honour after a wildly successful 2016-17 campaign saw him lead Real Madrid to a second consecutive Champions League crown, while also spearheading the club’s march to the La Liga title, and subsequently captaining Portugal to 2018 World Cup qualification. He was presented with the award in Paris.

Having gotten his hands on the hardware once again, Ronaldo has now claimed football’s top individual honour in four of the last five years, with Messi last winning the award in 2015. The last time the award was not given to either of those players was Kaka’s 2007 victory.