Twitter erupts after Cristiano Ronaldo beats Lionel Messi to win fifth Ballon d'Or crown

Everybody predicted Cristiano Ronaldo to win the 2017 Ballon d'Or and France Football made it official today as the Portuguese forward collected his fifth trophy. The Real Madrid star has now equaled Lionel Messi's haul of five Ballon d'Or titles with no signs of stopping.

Ronaldo beat the likes of Messi, Neymar, Luka Modric and Giuanluigi Buffon - who all finished in the top five after all the votes were counted.

And as expected, Twitter users the world over reacted to Ronaldo winning the award.

Here's the moment Ronaldo picked up the award and soaked in the adulation of the crowd at the ceremony.

Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d’Or @francefootball 2017 ! #BallondOr pic.twitter.com/XbPS7anVRL

— France Football (@francefootball) December 7, 2017

The Moment Cristiano Ronaldo Became A 5 Time Ballon D'or Winner!!!!! ?????pic.twitter.com/arKvaomT4e

— 01RMadridista (@01RMadridista) December 7, 2017

?? BALLON D'OR 2017?? @CRISTIANO RONALDO pic.twitter.com/2w1lm3nHSj

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) December 7, 2017

The numbers don't lie.

Two legends ...10 #BallondOr Cristiano: ??????????Messi: ??????????#LaLiga pic.twitter.com/Xai9clHeZ1

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) December 7, 2017

5 - @Cristiano has won 3 of the last 4 Ballon d'Or to equal Lionel Messi (5 each) as the player with the most editions won ever. Leyend pic.twitter.com/IpPlZDyKiT

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 7, 2017

Cristiano Ronaldo in football history is now:Player with most Ballon D’OrsPlayer with most FIFA POTYsPlayer with most UEFA POTYsPlayer with most Golden Boots pic.twitter.com/D5kwgF6Zhf

— Ryan. (@Rygista) December 7, 2017

Cristiano Ronaldo in 2017:? Ballon d’Or? FIFA’s The Best? UEFA Player of the Year? UCL Top Scorer [2016/17]? La Liga? Champions League? UEFA Super Cup? Supercopa? 2018 WC Qualification?? 49 Goalspic.twitter.com/EmbCCDApmx

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cr7Prince4ever) December 7, 2017

Of course, Messi (and his legion of fans) weren't spared after ronaldo caught up with his tally. The Argentine forward had won four in a row between 2009 and 2012 after Ronaldo picked up his first in 2008 (with Manchester United).

However, since then Ronaldo has picked up the award in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017 while Messi only won it again in 2015 (when Barcelona won the treble).

When you're 4-1 up but then Ronaldo levels it up at 5-5. pic.twitter.com/lUKk9GXbBB

— Mike Sanz (@mikesanz19) December 7, 2017

Messi right now pic.twitter.com/NA2G6iip7c

— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) December 7, 2017

#Messi is left crying again as #Ronaldo shows him who the daddy is at the #BallondOr2017 awards pic.twitter.com/tEcBOPdvYj

— ShotOnGoal (@shotongoal247) December 7, 2017

Its amazing Ronaldo didn't stop going after watching Messi win 4 straight balon d'ors.Homie put in mad work cant even hate on that

— Mubarak (@yo_jab) December 7, 2017

From 4-1 to 5-5, Only The Man "Who Never Gives Up' can do that.Messi fans or not, You should be inspired and Respect Cristiano Ronaldo for that.

— RMadridXI (@RMadridXI) December 7, 2017

Messi, lauded as the best ever, was 4-1 up, and for Ronaldo to bring it back to 5-5 in Messi's peak years, is testament to his talent.

— The Man Utd Way (@TheManUtdWay) December 7, 2017

Ronaldo fans tweeting Messi fans right now like... pic.twitter.com/Zo4AzYKwRh

— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) December 7, 2017

Remember when in 2012 Messi fans used to say that wake me up when Ronaldo has same amount of BDRs as Messi? Hope you're all awake now.

— 4-1 (@CarvajalRelated) December 7, 2017

But there were plenty more who had immense respect for both players' achievements. Can you imagine the last time neither player won was back in 2007 when Kaka won the title?

Cannavaro: "It's very difficult to defend against Cristiano as a rival. He is a leader for all his teammates."Kaka: "Whenever Ronaldo or Messi win the Ballon d'Or the world remember me because I was the last person to win it before they took over." pic.twitter.com/1j4koYmprV

— M•A•J (@UltraSuristic_) December 7, 2017

If you’re ever sad, remember that the Earth is 4.543 billion years old......and you somehow existed at the same time as Lionel Messi AND Cristiano Ronaldo ? pic.twitter.com/EelWgxeCsp

— BigSport (@BigSportGB) December 7, 2017

5th Ballon D’or for Ronaldo equalling Messi. Absolutely blessed to be in an era with two footballers head and shoulders above the chasing pack for a decade. Looking forward to the next decade when the Messi-Ronaldo Duopoly is over, the sheer unpredictability of the Ballon D’or!

— Hesham Bilal-Hafiz (@hesham786) December 7, 2017

And there were a few who just wanted to troll the Real Madrid star...

Don't let Ronaldo winning his 5th balon d'or distract you from the fact that Paulinho has more la liga goals than him this season

— 10 (@BelgianFW) December 7, 2017

Cristiano Ronaldo Wins His 5th #BallondOr, Equals His Dad.??? 2008? 2013? 2014? 2016? 2017Congrats #CristianoRonaldo !??? #Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/t0hO9grXRT

— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) December 7, 2017

The sad thing about the #BallondOr award is that it will give future generations the illusion that Cristiano Ronaldo was as good, or nearly as good, as Leo Messi.

— Andreas Vou (@AndreasVou89) December 7, 2017

Lionel Messi is compared to players like Pele and Maradona on a consistent basis.Ronaldo is compared to Messi.Levels.

— Lav (@LavCFC) December 7, 2017