Cristiano Ronaldo (right) earns more than twice as many votes as four-time winner Lionel Messi. (Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo (right) earns more than twice as many votes as four-time winner Lionel Messi. (Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA Player of the Year award Monday for the second straight year and third time overall, according to the Associated Press. The Portuguese forward and Real Madrid star received 37.66 percent of votes of national team coaches and captains. He also won the award in 2008 and 2013.

Ronaldo scored 61 goals between Real Madrid and Portugal last year, and set a Champions League season record with 17 goals.

"I want to become one of the greatest players of all time," he said through a translator in his acceptance speech. "Of course, this requires a lot of effort and I hope to get there."

Argentina star Lionel Messi, who plays for Barcelona, was second in voting with 15.76 percent. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who helped Germany to the World Cup title, finished third with 15.72 percent of the vote.

The Women's Player of the Year award went to German midfielder Nadine Kessler for the first time, as she took home 17.52 percent of the vote to beat out Brazilian forward Marta (14.16 percent) and American forward Abby Wambach (13.33 percent). Marta was a five-time winner from 2006-10 and Wambach won in 2012.