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Messi named Best Player in Europe

Comment: 0 August 26th, 2011 by: admin

Lionel Messi has been voted the inaugural winner of the UEFA Best Player Award in Europe for the 2010-2011 season Thursday.

The award, determined by a poll of sports journalists from every UEFA member association, had Messi with a total of 39 votes. Trailing in second place was Messi’s teammate Xavi Hernandez with a distant 11 votes; and in third was Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo with 3 votes.

The Barcelona hero also beat out Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, another fellow Barcelona player Gerard Pique, and Schalke 04’s Manuel Neuer (now with Bayern Munich).

‘I’d like to thank all the people that voted for me, and all of my teammates’ said the 24-year old addressing the crowd at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

‘I keep all these awards at home and I still have some space for more. It’s an honour to be so successful and to come up with the goods at the right time; thanks to my team-mates for helping me achieve this.’

Last season saw Messi score a total of 53 goals, including 12 in the Champions League thereby making him the top scorer for the third consecutive season. It was also his last European goal last season that lifted Barcelona 3-1 over Manchester United to win the Champions League title.

Messi was also instrumental in helping his team claim the La Liga title last season for the third straight time.

The winner of the UEFA award is judged based on his performance across all competitions – domestic and international, club and national level – during the 2010-2011 season.

Messi’s stellar career has included a list of past honours. These include 2 other Champions League titles (2006, 2009), 3 consecutive Champions League leading scorer recognition s (from 2008-2009 to 2010-2011), the UEFA Super Cup (2009), UEFA Club Footballer of the Year (2009), and UEFA Club Forward of the Year (2009).

Barcelona was also voted Team of the Year – determined by the users of UEFA.com – 3 straight times from 2008-2010.

The award was created to replace the old Ballon d’Or award for Europe’s best player, which has been replaced by the FIFA Ballon d’Or award for best player in the world.

UEFA’s Best Player in Europe Award is one amongst a number of honours that form the UEFA Club Football Awards. Others include best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, forward and coach.

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