Topics: FIFA, The Best, Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann, Lionel Messi
Messi was able to cut the gap between himself and CR7, but he ended up as the runner up in an award race for the second straight time in two months.

The difference may be shorter, but the end result was the same.

FIFA's The Best Award gave fans the chance to vote for their favorite player in 2016, and even if Lionel Messi has a large amount of fans around the world, his fandom wasn't enough to help him beat Cristiano Ronaldo in their dispute over the recently created trophy.

Cristiano Ronaldo was considered by many as the favorite to win the award, but Messi's fans had the chance to overturn the votes of media experts and footballers from around the globe. Once CR7 was announced as the winner, the results were published online.

"Results for "The Best" Player Award."

The player was joined on stage by his girlfriend, his mother, and his son, Cristiano Jr.

Ronaldo capped a massive individual year, as he won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid. Added to those accolades, CR7 led Portugal to their first-ever international trophy by beating France in the UEFA Euro final, while winning France Football's Ballon D'Or and UEFA Best Player awards.