Lionel 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.

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