Zurich: Lionel Messi won an unprecedented fifth FIFA Ballon d'Or award, given to the footballer of the year, at a gala ceremony here on Monday, ending his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo's two-year hold on football's top individual prize.

Either Messi or Ronaldo, who became a three-time winner last year, have won the past eight awards. The FC Barcelona and Argentine superstar's reclaimed the prize from three-time winner Portugal's Ronaldo and he now leads 5-3 in their career duel for the annual FIFA prize.