Barcelona’s Lionel Messi beat Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo for the 'UEFA Best Player in Europe' award on Thursday.
Champions League draw: Group-by-group breakdown
Messi's role in Barcelona's treble-winning 2014/15 campaign was acknowledged as he was handed out the coveted trophy during the UEFA Champions League group stage draw.
In the process the Argentine superstar beat his Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez and Ronaldo to take home the silverware.
It is the second time the forward was honoured in the accolade's five-year history.
To decide the winner, 54 votes from European journalists were tallied up via an electronic system. Messi, recipient of the inaugural prize in 2011, received 49 votes, while Suarez had 3 and Ronaldo 2.
The 28-year-old broke Telmo Zarra's record for Liga goals last term and ended the season with 58 in all competitions, a total swollen by a double in the Blaugrana's Copa del Rey final triumph over Athletic Club.
Barcelona's No 10 was also the ten-goal joint-top scorer in the UEFA Champions League alongside club colleague Neymar and Ronaldo.
Germany striker Celia Sasic won the 'Best Women's Player' award. It was a fitting way for the 27-year-old, who announced her retirement last month, to end her career.
