Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo wins record-equalling fifth Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded the Ballon d'Or for a fifth time, equalling the record set by his rival Lionel Messi.

The 32-year-old was announced winner of France Football's prestigious title for the second consecutive time at an awards ceremony in Paris on Thursday evening.

It comes at the conclusion of an all-conquering year for the former Manchester United man as he helped Real to a second Champions League in a row as well as the La Liga title.

He scored 42 goals in total during the 2016/17 season, scoring 25 in the league and finishing the Champions League's top scorer with 12, including a brace in the final against Juventus.

The Portuguese – who also holds the FIFA Best Male Player award, which was uncoupled from the Ballon d'Or last year – has won the award for four of the past five years.

Ronaldo and the Argentinian Messi have each won five of the last ten Ballon d'Or awards, though the Real Madrid star has had the upper hand in recent years.

Barcelona's Messi finished second in the polling while his former teammate Neymar, now of Paris Saint-Germain, finished third.

Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus in fourth was the highest-ranked player not to ply his trade in La Liga, while Ronaldo's Madrid teammate Luka Modric rounded out the top five.