Lionel Messi has again been crowned the Spanish La Liga’s best player for 2014-15 at the gala LFP Awards ceremony in Barcelona on Monday night.
It was the sixth time in the awards’ seven-year history that Messi has claimed the top prize, with last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo the only other recipient last year.
The Argentina maestro claimed the award along with being chosen as forward of the year on a night which saw his treble-winning Barca side rewarded for their dominance of the league and Europe.
Neymar, Messi’s Barcelona team-mate shortlisted with him for the Ballon d’Or, won the Americas’ best player (Image credit: La Liga)
Messi, Neymar and goalkeeper of the year Claudio Bravo stand in a line-up of award winners in Barcelona (Image credit: La Liga)
Winners pose for a selfie after the awards but Sergio Ramos, who won defender of the year and accepted the fan-voted prize on behalf of Cristiano Ronaldo, was a notable absentee
Both in their first years at the Catalan giants, manager Luis Enrique won coach of the year while Claudio Bravo won goalkeeper of the year, and Neymar was chosen as the best player from the Americas.
Messi paid tribute to his son Thiago after a year in which he delivered 43 goals and 18 assists.
‘I dedicate this award to my son Thiago,’ he said. ‘When I leave home, he always gets mad and says, ‘You’re again going to the goal’.’
Spanish MotoGP superstar Marc Marquez was as delighted to present the award as Messi was to receive it.
‘A pleasure give a prize to the best soccer player in the history #nowords,’ said Marquez on Twitter.
Valencia’s Sofiane Feghouli was the only player from Spain’s two giants to be honoured after he was given the Best African Player prize.
Bravo was delighted with his recognition for his debut Barca season in which he conceded just 19 goals as his side proved the competition’s most frugal defence.
‘Happy to receive this great trophy,’ Bravo posted on Twitter. ‘With effort and hard work, everything is possible #bestgoalkeeper’
Lionel Messi arrives ahead of winning the top prize at the La Liga’s annual awards ceremony on Monday (Image credit: EPA)
Barcelona’s Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo gives the thumbs up before his award for his impressive year (Image credit: AFP/ Getty Images)
Neymar, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi in the Ballon d’Or’s final three, was named the Americas’ finest (Image credit: AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid stalwart Sergio Ramos was named La Liga’s best defender for the fourth consecutive year (Image credit: AFP/Getty Images)
With a final count of five awards for Barcelona and three for Real Madrid, who were recently beaten 4-0 by their fierce rivals, Ballon d’Or finalist Neymar suggested the tally should have been more lop-sided.
‘Barça five awards, Madrid three? Don’t know if it’s fair, but all nominees worked hard,’ he said after being dubbed America’s best player despite Messi, Bravo and Rodriquez all hailing from South America. ‘Barca could have won more but I’m happy with my award.’
Real’s awards came to Sergio Ramos, winning the defender prize for the fourth year in a row, and James Rodriguez chosen as the best defender.
‘Four years in a row. Many thanks to all who make it possible. Four years in a row! Many thanks,’ Ramos tweeted.
After sweeping up four awards at the same event last year Ronaldo, who didn’t attend on Monday, was voted as the fans’ player of the season (chosen via Mahou.es), which Ramos accepted.
Former West Brom boss Pepe Mel also found himself accepting an award, not for himself but Real Betis’s Ruben Castro whose 32 goals earned him the title of best striker in Spain’s second tier.
LFP Award nominees are shortlisted for each category by a technical committee before being voted on by current league managers, while players vote for the best player and best manager awards.
Ramos posted his success for a fourth consecutive year on Twitter and accepted an award for Ronaldo (Image credit: Sergio Ramos via Twitter)
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