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POST TIME: 28 August, 2015 00:00 00 AM / LAST MODIFIED: 28 August, 2015 01:24:38 AM
Messi best UEFA player of the year
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Messi best UEFA player of the year

Lionel Messi was named the UEFA Best Player in Europe for the 2014-15 season for helping Barcelona to a Treble of trophies, report agencies. The Argentine pipped his Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo to the prize with Neymar finishing in fifth place. Messi received the accolade after Thursday's Champions League group stage draw was made, as the holders were placed against Bayer Leverkusen, Roma and BATE Borisov. The four-time FIFA world player of the year scored 58 goals in all competitions while leading Barcelona to titles in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Ronaldo scored 61 goals, but Real Madrid failed to win any major trophies. 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 last won the award in 2011, the first year that Europe's governing body awarded the honour.