Barcelona’s Messi wins UEFA Best Player

Lionel Messi (aged 28) of FC Barcelona (Barca) in Spanish Primera Liga won the title of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)’s best play in 2014~2015 season.

At the award-ceremony held in Grimaldi Forum, Monaco on Friday, he got the honor, beating Cristiano Ronaldo (aged 30, Real Madrid) and his team mate Luis Suárez (aged 28). Launched in the season of 2010~2011, the UEFA award went to Messi for the second time. He is the first player to grab the honor twice. He won 49 votes out of 54 from reporters. Suárez won three votes while Ronaldo, the winner of 2013-2014 season, ended up with only two votes.

Messi scored 58 goals from the total of 57 matches in 2014~2015 season including 43 goals from 38 league matches, brining Triple Crown (La Liga, King`s Cup, UEFA Champions League) to Barca.

At the interview after the ceremony, he made remarks targeted at Argentine media that has incessantly criticized him. “I am used to them saying these types of things. (The media) can`t kill me any more than they already have. I never said that I wasn`t going to play any longer with the national team,” Messio told the reporters, denying the rumor of his retirement started by Argentine media.

When Argentina finished second in Copa América (South American Football Championship) that ended in July 5, the media’s criticism has been focused on Messi for the reason that his performance in the national team is far lower than that in Barca. Out of six matches in Copa América, Messio scored only one goal on a penalty kick. The Argentine media pinpointed that Messi becomes poor player in the uniform of national team, bringing up the possibility of his retirement from a national soccer player.

“Now we have friendlies and as long as the coach calls me up I am going to continue to be present,” said Messi. His next match is scheduled on Sept. 5 against Bolivia, followed by a friendly-match with Mexico on Sept. 8.