PARIS • Lionel Messi was on Thursday voted as Uefa's best player in Europe for the 2014-15 season, with Germany's Celia Sasic winning the women's award.
The Argentinian star, who won the Champions League, the Spanish Primera Liga and Spanish Cup with Barcelona, claimed the award for the second time, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez.
"I am happy to win the award," said the 28-year-old, who scored 58 goals in 57 matches last season. "I thank all my team-mates because they deserve part of it. I depend a lot on the team like everyone else."
Messi collected 49 of the 54 votes by journalists to become the first two-time winner. He won the inaugural title in 2010-11 and succeeds Real Madrid rival Ronaldo, who won last year.
FFC Frankfurt's Sasic, 27, was voted the best women's player ahead of France's Amandine Henry and fellow German Dzsenifer Marozsan.
Sasic, who retired last month, was the top scorer in the Champions League which Frankfurt won, as well as at the Women's World Cup in Canada.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
