Messi awarded Europe best player

09:49, 26 August 2011

MONACO. August 26. KAZINFORM Lionel Messi was voted the inaugural winner of the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award on Thursday, which replaces the European Footballer of the Year award; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

The Argentine striker beat Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in a poll of 53 sports journalists representing each of the UEFA member associations.

"I'd like to thank all the people that voted for me, and all my teammates," Messi said at the awards ceremony in Monaco.

"I keep all these awards at home and I still have some space for more. It's an honor to be so successful and to come up with the goods at the right time. Thanks to my teammates for helping me achieve this."

Messi, 24, scored 53 goals last season, including 12 in the Champions League, where he finished as the top scorer for the third season in succession, scoring in the 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the final; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

To learn more go to www.xinhuanet.com/english2010

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