Lionel Messi Beats Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar to the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi has won his record-breaking fifth Ballon d'Or.

Image via USA TODAY Sports/Matthew Emmons

Lionel Messi just won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for the first time since 2012.

The Barcelona and Argentina sensation beat competition from Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar to be crowned the world's best player after a brilliant 2015.

Messi won the domestic treble with Barcelona in 2015—forming a lethal triple threat with Neymar and Luis Suarez—and scored 52 goals in 61 appearances for club and country. It is Messi's recordf fifth Ballon d'Or award.

Chasing the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or, minute by minute https://t.co/ilCfSTinDr #Ballondor #Messi #Neymar pic.twitter.com/nEz7OtxSIH

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 11, 2016

Messi won his first Ballon d'Or in 2009 and has now picked it up four more times since it was rebranded as the FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010.

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