"It is a very special moment for me to be back here on this stage,
winning again another Ballon d’Or after being there in the audience
watching Cristiano win," he said.
"It’s incredible this is my fifth. It’s much more than anything I’ve dreamed of as a kid.
"I want to thank everyone who voted for me and I want to thank my
team-mates. And lastly, I want to thank football in general for
everything it has brought me. Both the bad and the good. Because it has
made me learn and grow."
Earlier in the night, Messi was named in the FIFPro World XI , alongside Ronaldo and Neymar.
