(CNN)Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Lionel Messi to the Ballon d'Or for the second successive year.

The 29-year

-old was voted best player in the world ahead of the Argentina and Barcelona forward and German international and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at a FIFA ceremony held in Zurich, Switzerland.

Ronaldo received the most votes from a panel made up of captains and coaches of national teams and a selection of the world's media.

"I would like to thank all of those who voted for me," Ronaldo said after receiving the award.