The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Lionel Messi beats out Cristiano Ronaldo to win best player in Europe award

August 27, 2015 at 2:20 p.m. EDT
Lionel Messi accepts Europe’s best player award from UEFA President Michel Platini while Cristiano Ronaldo, another nominee, stands in the background. (Valery HachevaleryAFP/Getty Images)

It was a good day for Lionel Messi on Thursday. Besides witnessing Barcelona get one of the best Champions League draw results at a ceremony in Monaco, the 28-year-old superstar won the European soccer’s two top honors, taking home trophies for both best goal and best player.

[Champions League draw: Why Barcelona has an easy path to the knockout round]

To win the top prize, best player, Messi beat out FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid, as well as his Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez. This is the second time Messi has won the award since it was created in 2011.

Messi also took home the award for best goal for his stunning effort last season when he embarrassed Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng during a Champions League semifinal match by juking the ball so fast it caused Boateng to topple like a fresh-cut tree.

Messi’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed at the time the match took place in May. His action earned accolades from around the world, including from members of the men’s and women’s U.S. national teams who flooded social media with compliments.

Messi’s teammate Marc-Andre ter Stegen rounded out Barcelona’s sweep of the men’s awards, taking home the trophy for best save for his goalkeeping efforts against Bayern during a May 12 game.

Ter Stegen made a dramatic double-dive to save a ball twice at the line after Robert Lewandowski kicked the ball to the net off an assist by Thiago Alcantara. Ter Stegen initially got a hand on it, but the ball’s trajectory continued to the goal, which led the 23-year-old to dive to the post to save it at the line as Bayern’s fans already started their celebrations. Those celebrations quickly ended, however, as heard on a this audio clip of the save.

The only award that didn’t go to the reigning Champions League winners was the women’s best player award, which went to Germany’s Célia Šašić, 27, who retired from professional play last month.

“I have the best job, I’m a striker,” the former FFC Frankfurt player said, noting she couldn’t have won without the help of the rest of the team. “This is for them too.”

Šašić beat out teammate Dzsenifer Marozsán and Amandine Henry of the French club Olympique Lyon.