DHAKA: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or award for the world’s best player for the fifth time.

The 28-year-old Argentine had 41.33% of the vote, with Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo (27.76%) second and Barca’s Neymar (7.86%) third, reports the BBC.

Either Messi or Ronaldo, who became a three-time winner last year, have won the past eight awards.

United States midfielder Carli Lloyd, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, won the women’s award.

Messi scored 52 goals and assisted in 26 in 61 games in 2015, a goal in every 101 minutes and an assist every 202 minutes.

He was directly involved in 49 goals in La Liga - 34 scored and 15 assists - which was the joint-most with Ronaldo in 2015 across the top five European leagues.

Besides, Messi scored in all six club tournaments in 2015, as Barcelona won five of them.

Portugal captain Ronaldo, meanwhile, scored 57 goals in as many games in 2015 - including a record 16 in the Champions League - but that was not enough to win him Ballon d’Or number four.

Barcelona striker Neymar, 23, was the first Brazilian to finish in the top three since Kaka won the 2007 award. He scored 45 goals in 62 games and is joint top scorer in this season’s La Liga with 15, level with team-mate Luis Suarez.

“It’s a very special moment for me to be back here on this stage, winning again another Ballon d’Or after seeing Cristiano win it,” Messi said.

“It’s incredible that it’s my fifth. Much more than anything I would have dreamed of as a kid.”

BDST: 1158 HRS, JAN 12, 2016
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