Back on top: Lionel Messi captures record 5th Ballon d'Or

For the past two years, Lionel Messi was forced to sit back and watch as perennial rival Cristiano Ronaldo strutted to the stage and collected back-to-back Ballon d'Or crowns.

On Monday at FIFA's annual gala, the shoe returned to the other foot.

For the fifth time in his illustrious career, Messi - whose brilliance bordered on the absurd last season - was crowned as the world's best player, capturing the 2015 Ballon d'Or and ensuring that his ever-swelling trophy room will need further alterations to fit another piece of sparkling hardware.

The Barcelona megastar, who led his team to an historic treble-winning campaign in 2015, topped both Ronaldo and teammate Neymar for football's most illustrious individual honour, blowing his competition out of the water to claim the coveted prize in a landslide. Messi garnered 41.33 percent of all votes, well ahead of the Portuguese scoring machine, who received 27.76 percent. Neymar picked up a mere 7.86 percent.

In the process, Messi established a new record by walking away with the prize for an unprecedented fifth time.

The diminutive Argentine, still only 28 and showing no signs of slowing, found the net 52 times for club and country in 2015, adding 26 assists as he, Neymar and Luis Suarez redefined what it means to be a truly elite attacking force of nature - and doing so with unrivaled flair and panache.

(Courtesy: ESPN)

There was that goal against Athletic Bilbao - a masterpiece of individual skill, speed and finishing ability. There was that stunning tally that Jerome Boateng will never be able to live down. And, seemingly every week, there were moments that seemed mundane in comparison, but would be among the greatest highlights ever concocted by mere mortal players. That, more than anything, is the brilliance of Messi.

"It's a very special moment for me to be back here on this stage, winning again another Ballon d'Or after seeing Cristiano win it," Messi said after accepting the trophy from Kaka, who remains the last person other than the Argentine or Ronaldo to win the award. "It's incredible that it's my fifth. Much more than anything I would have dreamed of as a kid.

"And lastly, I want to thank football in general for everything it has brought me. Both the bad and the good. Because it has made me learn and grow."

Messi's closest competitor, Ronaldo was, by every possible measure aside from team success, outstanding in 2015. Ditto for Neymar, whose emergence last year felt like the first major step in the process of the Brazilian inheriting the crown as the world's foremost footballer from his esteemed teammate.

But he isn't quite there yet.

Though the competition is arguably stiffer than it has ever been, Messi remains a class above those who strive to surpass him. Never was that more clear than over the past 12 months.