Lionel Messi was on Thursday voted UEFA's Best Player in Europe for last season. The Barcelona star beat his teammate Luis Suarez and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in a Europe-wide poll of journalists. Messi got the UEFA honor after a season-long duel with Ronaldo for the Champions League scoring record. Both resume this season on 77 goals.
Messi scored 58 goals and provided 31 assists as Barcelona won a tremendous trebble - La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Champions League. Messi is the first two-time winner after winning the inaugural award in 2010-11. Ronaldo won it last season. Congrats to him ... truly deserved !