Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi was crowned the winner of the 2015 Ballon d’Or at Monday’s ceremony in Zurich.

The 28-year-old beat Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barca team-mate Neymar to the game’s most prestigious individual award, winning it for a record fifth time in his spectacular career.

Messi polled 41.33 per cent of the vote, ahead of Ronaldo (27.76 per cent) and Neymar (7.86 per cent). Either Messi or Ronaldo, who became a three-time winner last year, have won the past eight awards.

Messi at the awards

Messi was the hot favourite for the accolade voted for by international captains, coaches and a selection of media representatives from around the world having helped Barca to an historic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in a 2014-15 season in which he netted 58 goals in all competitions.

At international level, Messi captained Argentina to the Copa America final, where they were beaten by hosts Chile on penalties one year after losing out in the World Cup final to Germany.

Messi’s five award wins puts him well clear at the top of the list of Ballon d’Or victors.

United States midfielder Carli Lloyd, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, won the women’s award.