Messi Beats Ronaldo To Win LA Liga Award

Lionel Messi was named La Liga’s best
striker and best player in the 2014-15
season at the LFP (Spanish Football
League) Gala Awards Ceremony on
Monday, helping Barcelona to claim five
prizes to rival club Real Madrid’s three.
Messi, 28, scored 43 La Liga goals
last campaign as Barca won the
league title as well as the Copa del
Rey and the Champions League.
It is the sixth time the Argentina
international has won the prizes,
with Real Madrid’s Cristiano
Ronaldo beating him in 2013-14.
“I’m proud to receive this award
ahead of so many important players
in La Liga,” Messi, who was named
on the FIFA Ballon d’Or shortlist
alongside Ronaldo and Barca
teammates Neymar, said.
“This award in particular I want to
dedicate to my son Thiago [aged 3]
even if he still doesn’t understand
very well. Every time I leave the
house he gets angry and asks me:
‘Papa, are you going again to score
goals?’ This award is for him.”
Ronaldo was named the Fans’ Five-
Star Player after supporters voted
for their favourite player on
mahou.es following each matchday
last season.
Messi, whose best player award was
determined by technical data, added:
“I am happy to be once more among
the three best, and to go to another
gala.
“Happy to be with Neymar. Luis
Suarez also deserved to be among
the three best, but that is to take
nothing away from Cristiano
Ronaldo, who also deserved it.”
Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, forward
Neymar and head coach Luis
Enrique also claimed prizes at the
ceremony.
Bravo was named best goalkeeper
after conceding 19 times during the
2014-15 season, and he said “being
here is an enormous privilege and
receiving this award is a dream
come true.”
Neymar was named best player from
the Americas, and the Brazil star
said: “I am really happy to have won
the award. I thank my teammates for
all they do.”
Real Madrid duo Sergio Ramos and
James Rodriguez were named best
defender and midfielder
respectively, while Valencia’s Sofiane
Feghouli was named best African
player.