Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who received his fifth Ballon d'Or on Thursday to equal Lionel Messi's record tally, has now commented on his rivalry with the FC Barcelona talisman.
Gallery: Ronaldo Receives 5th Ballon D'Or On Eiffel Tower
The Portuguese won France Football's 2017 Ballon d'Or after lifting FIFA's The Best Men's Player award earlier this year, with Messi coming in second.
It is the former Manchester United attacker's fifth Golden Ball, equalling Messi's record, and Ronaldo has now commented on how long his "battle" with Messi will continue.
"I hope to play at this level for a few more years," he said at the awards ceremony, as quoted by the Daily Mirror.
"I hope the battle with Messi continues, things happen for a reason, I feel good this season and we'll see what we win at the end of the year.
"I feel very happy. It's a fantastic moment in my career, I've been waiting for this for a long time, this year has been great, we won the Champions League and La Liga and, on a personal level, I was a top scorer in the Champions League.
"Trophies help win these awards and we have to thank my colleagues from Madrid and Portugal, it was very important for me."
Read: The Previous 13 Ballon d'Or Winners Before CR7 Messi
Ronaldo and Messi have now shared the Ballon d'Or for the past 10 years, with the last winner other than the two superstars being Kaka back in 2007.
Do you think either Messi or Ronaldo will lift next year's Ballon d'Or? Have your say in the comments section below.
