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Messi wins FIFA world player award for a record 5th time

January 11, 2016
Argentina's Lionel Messi delivers a speech after winning the FIFA Men's soccer player of the year 2015 prize during the FIFA Ballon d'Or awarding ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, Monday, January 11, 2016. (Walter Bieri/KEYSTONE via AP))

Argentina’s Lionel Messi delivers a speech after winning the FIFA Men’s soccer player of the year 2015 prize during the FIFA Ballon d’Or awarding ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, Monday, January 11, 2016. (Walter Bieri/KEYSTONE via AP))

ZURICH (AP) — Lionel Messi has won the FIFA world player of the year award for a record fifth time.

Messi ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s two-year hold on the Ballon d’Or trophy, soccer’s top individual honor.

The Barcelona forward regained the prize after his club won five major titles last year, leaving Ronaldo’s Real Madrid with nothing.

Ronaldo ended up in second place, with Barcelona striker Neymar in third.
Voting was by national team captains and coaches, plus invited journalists, from FIFA member countries.

Barcelona swept the main honors as Luis Enrique was named best coach for guiding the winner of Spain’s La Liga, Champions League and Club World Cup.