Ronaldo ties Messi with fifth Ballon d’Or
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or award as soccer’s best player of the year for a record-equalling fifth time, levelling him with Barcelona star Lionel Messi. Ronaldo won the trophy awarded by France Football magazine at a ceremony Thursday at the Eiffel Tower. He finished ahead of contenders Messi and Neymar, who left Barcelona in the off-season to join Paris Saint- Germain for a world-record transfer fee of US$262 million. The 32-year-old Portugal forward also took home the Ballon d’Or prize in 2013 and 2014 and in 2008 when playing for Manchester United. Messi won it from 2009-12 and again in 2015. Ronaldo claimed it back last year after helping Portugal win the European Championship and starring for Madrid as it won the Champions League.