Twitter reacts as Lionel Messi bottles a 4-1 Ballon d'Or lead!

Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo beat Barcelona forward Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or on Thursday. The Real Madrid star man has now won the prestigious award five times, equalling Messi's tally after being 4-1 behind at one point.

The Argentinean player was a hot topic on Twitter, after the Ballon d'Or award ceremony even though Ronaldo was the one who won it. The player's fans claimed that he is still the best player in the game currently, while others trolled him for giving away a lead of three.

Here is how the Twitterati reacted to Messi coming second on the award night:

Even though the 30-year-old could not win the Ballon d'Or, he set the record for being in the top three in the race for the award continuously for 11 years.

Messi is on the podium of the Ballon d'Or for the 11th consecutive time.

— nextBarca (@nextBarca) December 7, 2017

Messi was trolled mercilessly for bottling a 4-1 lead!

Messi is the greatest individual bottler of all time, man bottled a 4-1 ballon D'or Lead.

— Mr. Jack Robinson (@jackdre02) 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

Messi right now pic.twitter.com/NA2G6iip7c

— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) December 7, 2017

Name a better duo, I'll wait... pic.twitter.com/gYjt7WzA88

— #5? (@DerGoretzka) December 7, 2017

Messi: "Siri, who's the best footballer in the world?"Siri: "Cristiano Ronaldo" pic.twitter.com/GPXIHLtOE9

— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) December 7, 2017

When you realise Messi blew up a 4-1 lead pic.twitter.com/ktwzWL1obP

— Nitin Dhuppad (@nitin_cul) December 7, 2017

The Barcelona number 10's fans, on the other hand, were left fuming as they thought he deserved to win the award.

This #BallondOr is a joke. This is supposed to be an individual award, not for winning trophies as a team. Check individual stats, who was better and always has been? Messi, and he always will be.

— ? (@MESSIscored) December 7, 2017

They also claimed that Messi is the GOAT even though Ronaldo has the same number of Ballon d'Ors as him.

Lionel Andrés Messi doesn’t need BdO’s and other trophies to be the GOAT. Simple as that. Best there is, best there’s ever been.

— Maxi (@MaaxiAngelo) 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

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

You could compile Lionel #Messi's greatest moments for club and country without including any goals and still he'd be the greatest football player that ever lived. That's the difference. #BallondOr

— Crippy Cooke (@CrippyCooke) December 7, 2017

THIS IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD.MESSI. pic.twitter.com/HQfzbelEQ5

— Barca Galaxy (@barcagalaxy) December 7, 2017

When fans of both players debated over who the better player is, neutral fans took to Twitter to let the world know how grateful they were to live in the era of the two legends.

The Last 10 #BallondOr Winners:?? Cristiano Ronaldo (5)? 2008? 2013? 2014? 2016? 2017?? Lionel Messi (5)? 2009? 2010? 2011? 2012? 2015Living in a blessed generation ??? pic.twitter.com/EB1BRb1wps

— SPORF (@Sporf) December 7, 2017

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have now won EACH of the last 10 Ballon d’Ors. We’ll never see a duo like them again. ? pic.twitter.com/36gxeKi4Ey

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@TeamCRonaldo) 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

In the end, Ronaldo and Messi fans could continue arguing on who is the Greatest Of All Time for years, but the truth is that it really is a blessing to see the two push each other to the limits and break records.

One of them is 32 and the other is 30, and it won't be long until the two of the greatest players to have embraced the beautiful game will hang up their boots and that will be a heartbreaking sight for all the lovers of the game.