Photos: Cristiano Ronaldo pips Messi to win Ballon d'Or for the 5th time

Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded the 2017 Ballon d'Or in a glitzy ceremony at the Eiffel Tower as the Real Madrid superstar clinched the gong for a fifth time by finishing ahead of Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Ronaldo is now level with Messi on five Ballon d'Ors following a 2016-17 season in which he won the Champions League and La Liga double with Real Madrid. The 2017 winner was unveiled in a dramatic video which slowly zoomed in on a sparkling Eiffel Tower to reveal Ronaldo standing on the podium and holding up the trophy. 'Of course, I feel happy. It's a big moment in my career,' Ronaldo said upon being presented with the award. 'It's something I hope to win 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 was later joined on stage by his mother Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and son Cristiano Ronaldo Jr as his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez watched on from the audience.

David Ginola presented the show in Paris, with the Brazilian Ronaldo providing assistance, and handed the award over at the glamorous ceremony in the French capital.

Ronaldo came out on top in the ceremony as organisers France Football revealed the 32-year-old beat out competition from the 29 other nominees to win the award, which is voted for by a group of 173 journalists.  

Barcelona's Messi finished as runner-up to Ronaldo in the seventh consecutive year where the superstars have occupied the top two positions in Ballon d'Or voting.

Neymar, who became the world's most expensive player when he joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona for £198million in August, came third. Juventus' veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon finished fourth.

The Premier League's highest placed player was Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante who finished eighth while Tottenham striker Harry Kane just sneaked into the top 10. 

Le classement du Ballon d'Or France Football 2017

1er : Cristiano Ronaldo
2e : Lionel Messi
3e : Neymar
4e : Gianluigi Buffon
5e : Luka Modric
6e : Sergio Ramos
7e : Kylian Mbappé
8e : N'Golo Kanté
9e : Robert Lewandowski
10e : Harry Kane
11e : Edinson Cavani
12e : Isco
13e : Luis Suarez
14e : Kevin De Bruyne
15e : Paulo Dybala
16e : Marcelo
17e : Toni Kroos
18e : Antoine Griezmann
19e : Eden Hazard
20e : David De Gea
21es : Leonardo Bonucci et Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
23e : Sadio Mané
24e : Radamel Falcao
25e : Karim Benzema
26e : Jan Oblak
27e : Mats Hummels
28e : Edin Dzeko
29es : Dries Mertens et Philippe Coutinho.