Lionel Messi Wins Fifth FIFA Ballon D'Or Award, Tops Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar

Lionel Messi is back on top.

Messi on Monday won the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or Award, beating fellow finalists Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar for soccer’s most prestigious individual honor.

#Messi has won the FIFA Ballon d'Or #BallondOr https://t.co/XA2rmWKNGF pic.twitter.com/GR0hqlH5ql

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) January 11, 2016

#Messi: 52 goals and 26 assists in 61 games for club and country in 2015, most goals + assists among the #BallondOr finalists last year

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 11, 2016

Messi becomes the first five-time Ballon d’Or winner. He claimed the prize in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Lionel Messi is the first player to win the #BallondOr five times. https://t.co/RnQ7ddGL5n pic.twitter.com/ZBaF5hm91Y

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 11, 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo broke Messi’s run of gold in 2013 and 2014, but voters — comprised of select media representatives as well as the coaches and captains of every national team — picked the FC Barcelona and Argentina superstar as last year’s No. 1 player.

FIFA #BallondOr 2015 winner #Messi received 41.33% of all votes ahead of #Cristiano (27.76%) & #Neymar (7.86%).

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) January 11, 2016

Only Messi and Ronaldo have claimed the Ballon d’Or since 2008. Kaka was the last player not named Messi or Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or.

Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@SportsCenter