Victory took the 32-year-old Portugal international level with 30-year-old Argentine Messi, who won the latest of his five honors in 2015.

Messi’s ex-Barcelona colleague Neymar, now at Paris St-Germain, was third.

Last season, Ronaldo helped Real Madrid win the Champions League and their first La Liga title since 2012.

Ronaldo added the 2017 Ballon d’Or to those he won in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2016, and Messi is the only other beneficiary of the honor since 2009.

“This is something I look forward to every year. Thanks to my Real Madrid team-mates. And I want to thank the rest of the people who helped me reach this level.” Ronaldo said, after receiving the award on the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The 2016-17 campaign was a stellar season for the ex-Manchester United player.

In the wake of helping Portugal win the Euro 2016, he scored 42 goals for Real Madrid in all competitions as they won their 33rd La Liga title and 12th European Cup.

He scored twice in a 4-1 Champions League final victory against Juventus and netted 25 goals in 29 league matches as the Los Blancos finished three points in front of Barcelona to win the La Liga.