Ronaldo Beats Messi, Wins FIFA's Best Male Player Award

Real Madrid's Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo has been crowned best soccer player in the world for two consecutive years running at FIFA's The Best awards gala.

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The acclaimed four-time Ballon d'Or winner also won La Liga and Champions League double with the Madrid club this year, striking twice against Juventus in the European Cup final to help Real become the first team to retain the trophy in its current format.

This was the second edition of the Best FIFA Football Awards, which is distinct from the Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo snagged the inaugural title following his spectacular leadership of Portugal's national team which lead them to victory at the UEFA Euro 2016 games.

"We are in England for the first time, and I win it for the second consecutive time,” Ronaldo told the ceremony's audience. “This is a great moment for me," Ronaldo told the ceremony audience at the London Palladium.”

Barcelona's Argentina forward Lionel Messi, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner and Paris St Germain's Brazil forward Neymar were runners-up for the award.

National team coaches, captains plus selected journalists voted for their favored sportsmen. For the first time, fans were also able to cast their vote through an online poll. Each group determined 25 percent of the total vote.

Real Madrid's French coach Zinedine Zidane won manager of the year trophy for his part in the club's success.