Best Fifa Football Awards 2019: Cristiano Ronaldo appears to respond to Lionel Messi winning top prize

The Argentine won out over the Portuguese and Virgil Van Dijk in a tight vote

Cristiano Ronaldo has appeared to respond to his disappointment at losing out to Lionel Messi at the Fifa Best Awards 2019.

The Portuguese did not attend the ceremony in Milan, despite playing for Juventus in nearby Turin.

And not long after Messi had picked up the top prize, Ronaldo appeared to brush off the defeat to his long-time rival with a cryptic message.

“Patience and persistence are two characteristics that differentiate the professional from the amateur,” Ronaldo wrote.

“Everything that is big today has started small. You can’t do everything, but do everything you can to make your dreams come true.

“And keep in mind that after night always comes dawn.”

Ronaldo won the Serie A title last season and then helped Portugal to lift the inaugural Nations League, though it was not to be enough to convince the majority of the vote.

Messi with the top prize in Milan (Getty)

Ronaldo snubbed Messi in his own ballot for The Best, while Messi did pay respect to Ronaldo’s great season by listing him as his second choice.

Currently recovering from an adductor injury, Ronaldo will miss the Serie A clash with Brescia on Tuesday.