Messi Takes Uefa Best Player in Europe Award

FC Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi, has been named Uefa Best Player in Europe for the 2014/15 season.

The Argentina international beat his Barca team-mate Luis Suarez and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo to the award, which was created in 2011 to revive the European Footballer of the Year Award (Ballon d’Or).

It is Messi’s second time of winning the accolade – after clinching the inaugural edition – which has also been claimed by Andrés Iniesta (2011-12), Franck Ribery (2012-13) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2013-14) on the past.

The four-time Balon d’Or winner received the trophy from Uefa president Michel Platini at the draw ceremony for the 2015-16 Uefa Champions League in Monaco, France, on Thursday.

Lionel Messi Has Now a Been Named the Uefa Best Player in Europe Twice. Image: Getty.
Lionel Messi Has Now a Been Named the Uefa Best Player in Europe Twice. Image: Getty.

Messi scored 58 goals in all competitions as Barcelona completed their second treble-winning campaign in as many seasons – including a brace in the final of the Copa Del Rey against Athletic Bilbao.

He is tied on 80 goals with Portuguese Ronaldo in Uefa Club competitions and on 77 goals in Europe’s premier club football competition, the Champions League.

Messi formed a formidable partnership with Suarez, and Neymar – the trio accounting for 122 of their club’s goals last season – as Barca completed a League, Cup and Champions League treble.