Sep 1, 2015 Lionel Messi’s role in Barcelona’s treble-winning 2014/15 campaign was recently acknowledged with the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.
The Argentina international, finished ahead of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and club-mate Luis Suárez. He received the trophy from UEFA President Michel Platini at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
“To start this new season with an award like this is very nice…we had a very successful season where we managed to achieve everything with the club; and with the national team we were also close to winning the Copa America. So I am very happy about all this” Messi said
The argentine forward, who received the award for the second time in the accolade’s five-year history, went on to say:
“Well, what we all achieved, as I said, is all thanks to this great team. When you manage to achieve your objectives with the group, then your personal objectives can also be achieved. And I think that everything the team did over the whole of last season is the reason I and Luis are here today”
Luis Suarez also affirmed that his Barcelona teammate deserved to win coveted prize.
“Well, I think it was more than deserved, and my reaction is pure happiness, as he is a great team mate, and, as he said, it’s the result of good work from the whole team to achieve important things. He is just the best in the world, and it’s a great pleasure to have him in the team. I am happy, also about the good friendship I have with him.”