Lionel Messi
added another individual trophy to his collection on Thursday as he was
voted UEFA's Best Player in Europe for last season.
The
Barcelona star beat Luis Suarez, his teammate at the Champions League
winner, and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in a Europe-wide poll of
journalists.
Messi,
the four-time FIFA world player of the year, got the UEFA honor after a
season-long duel with Ronaldo for the Champions League scoring record.
Both resume this season on 77 goals.
Lionel Messi (left) receives his award from Michel Platini (right) as Cristiano Ronaldo stands in the background
Ronaldo looks on in the background as Platini (right) hands the trophy to Barcelona star Messi (left)
Messi scored 58 goals and provided 31 assists as Barcelona won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Champions League.
Suarez,
who scored the decisive second goal in the 3-1 final win over Juventus,
reached the shortlist despite starting his season in late-October. The
Uruguay forward served a FIFA ban for biting at the 2014 World Cup.
Messi is the first two-time winner after winning the inaugural award in 2010-11. Ronaldo won it last season.
Germany
striker Celia Sasic won the Best Women's Player in Europe award, which
is a fitting way to end her career after the 27-year-old announced her
retirement last month.
Sasic topped the vote ahead of German team-mate Dzsenifer Marozsan and France's Amandine Henry.
Germany's Celia Sasic (left) is presented with the UEFA Best Women Player in Europe award by Platini
Sasic (centre) is congratulated by fellow contender Dzsenifer Marozsan (left) after winning the award
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