Iniesta crowned European player of season

Updated August 31, 2012 10:05:31

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta received the UEFA Best Player in Europe award after pipping Cristiano Ronaldo and club-mate Lionel Messi in a journalists' poll.

It is his second major individual honour of the summer, after he was named Player of the Tournament for his role in Spain's triumph at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

The award was decided by 53 European journalists who cast their votes during the Champions League group-stage draw in Monaco.

Iniesta, 28, received 19 votes, with Ronaldo and Messi - the winner of last year's inaugural prize - each receiving 17.

"I am very honoured and I dedicate this award to my Barcelona and Spain team-mates," said Iniesta, who received the award from UEFA president Michel Platini.

"I am privileged to be here with two such great footballers as Leo and Cristiano."

An artful attacking midfielder, Iniesta has won every major honour in the game with Barcelona and Spain over the last four years and notably scored the extra-time winner against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa.

Despite his success at Euro 2012, Iniesta saw Barcelona miss out to Ronaldo's Real Madrid in last season's la Liga title race, while the Blaugrana also fell to eventual champions Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, spain

First posted August 31, 2012 09:45:31

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Messi breaks European goal record

Updated May 03, 2012 06:30:39

Barcelona star Lionel Messi reached another milestone in his incredible career on Thursday morning (AEST) when he broke Gerd Mueller's 39-year-old record of 67 goals in a season for a European top-flight club.

The World Player of the Year netted twice from the penalty spot and once from open play to help Barca to a 4-1 win at home to Malaga, his 44th, 45th and 46th La Liga goals of the campaign taking his total in all competitions to 68.

Mueller set the record playing for Bayern Munich in the 1972-73 season and Messi has three more matches - two in La Liga and the King's Cup final - in which to add to his tally.

Messi's third of the night at a festive Nou Camp showcased his dazzling skills as he raced clear on to Andres Iniesta's pass, dinked the ball over the onrushing Carlos Kameni and tapped the ball into the empty net.

Clutching the match ball and with a typically shy expression on his face, he was congratulated by his team-mates as he strolled off the pitch at the end.

Still only 24, Messi is already Barca's leading scorer in official games with 248 goals, beating Cesar Rodriguez's 60-year-old record of 232 in March when he also became the first player to score five in a Champions League match.

He netted his first goal for the Catalan club on May 1, 2005 aged 17 years, 10 months and seven days in a La Liga game against Albacete at the Nou Camp after coming through the youth system with contemporaries Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique.

This season, as well as his La Liga tally, he has scored 14 goals in the Champions League, two in the King's Cup, three in the Spanish Super Cup, one in the European Super Cup and two at the Club World Cup.

He has 11 more than Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 43 in La Liga, 10 in the Champions League, three in the King's Cup and one in the Spanish Super Cup.

Reuters

Tags: spain, soccer, sport, spain

First posted May 03, 2012 06:30:39

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