Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo put club rivalry aside to look after Barcelona rival Neymar at Ballon d'Or awards

Cristiano Ronaldo put his club rivalry aside to help out Barcelona star Neymar, according to television presenter, Kate Abdo.

The Real Madrid maestro has endured the wrath of the Nou Camp during their fierce battles in La Liga over the years, but Ronaldo was still happy to go out of his way to help Brazilian Neymar at the Ballon d'Or awards earlier this year.

'At the Ballon d'Or which I did in January, we do a little rehearsal with the players before they are going to go on stage for real,' Ballon d'Or gala presenter Abdo explained in an interview with Football Beyond Borders.

Presenter Kate Abdo on stage with with Cristiano Ronaldo at the the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala in Zurich in 2015

Hosts James Nesbitt and Abdo talk on stage with FIFA Ballon d'Or nominee Neymar in January 2016

Ronaldo was in high spirits during the ceremony despite losing out to Barcelona forward Lionel Messi

'He [Ronaldo] came out with Neymar, who is Brazilian and Ronaldo is Portuguese, so they both speak Portuguese, and although [Lionel] Messi and Neymar are team-mates, it was Ronaldo who took him around, showed him where he had to go, made sure everything was translated for him.

'He was just very kind and very caring towards Neymar, the way he looked out for him and made sure he knew what he was doing. 

'And that's a side [of Ronaldo] maybe you don't expect.'

The Los Blancos forward missed out to Messi on the prestigious prize, while Neymar made the top three for the first time in his career.

Messi won the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player for the fifth time. 

The 28-year-old Argentine had 41.33% of the vote, with Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo (27.76%) second, and Barca's Neymar (7.86%) third.

Either Messi or Ronaldo, who became a three-time winner last year, have won the past eight awards.

Argentina maestro Messi collected the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player for the fifth time

Abdo was surprised that Ronaldo, rather than Messi, looked after Neymar at the Ballon d'Or ceremony

Ronaldo has endured the wrath of the Nou Camp during the bitter battles between the two Spanish giants