Ballon d'Or: Lionel Messi wins award for fifth time ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar

The Barcleona forward's previous wins came back-to-back between 2009 and 2012

Lionel Messi accepts the Ballon d'Or award (Getty Images)

Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi has won the Fifa Ballon d’Or 2015.

The 28-year-old saw off competition from team-mate Neymar and long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo to win his fifth version of the award.

Messi scored a stunning 52 goals in 61 appearances in total during the last calendar year, while also notching 26 assists along the way.

He also recovered from the disappointment he suffered in 2014, when his national side lost a World Cup final to Germany, and claimed La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League and Club World Cup titles with his club side.

The Argentine’s previous wins came back-to-back between 2009 and 2012, with Ronaldo claiming the last two editions of the award.

"It's incredible that it’s my fifth,” he said while accepting the award.

“It’s much more than anything I dreamed of. I want to thank everyone, my friends and family. I want to thank my teammates. Without them this would not have been possible.

“I also want to thank football in general, for the bad and the good, for it has made me grow and learn. That's all, thank you."