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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Iniesta named Euro 2012's best player

Updated July 02, 2012 21:23:46

Andres Iniesta, who helped Spain to a second successive European Championship triumph in Poland and Ukraine, was named the best player at the tournament by UEFA.

Iniesta played a central role for Spain in Monday morning (AEST) 4-0 win over Italy in Kiev, as it became the first country to retain the title.

He was one of 10 Spaniards to figure in the 23-man squad of the tournament.

Spanish striker Fernando Torres won the Golden Boot award for the tournament's top scorer, edging out Germany's Mario Gomez.

The 28-year-old, whose goal in the 4-0 win over Italy in the final made him the only player to score in two Euro finals, like Gomez scored three goals and provided one assist during the tournament.

But UEFA gave it to him on the tie-break of having had less match time during the finals, the Spaniard having had 189 minutes on the pitch compared to Gomez's 280.

UEFA Euro 2012 squad:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Manuel Neuer (Germany)

Defenders: Gerard Pique (Spain), Fabio Coentrao (Portugal), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Pepe (Portugal), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Jordi Alba (Spain)

Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (Italy), Steven Gerrard (England), Xavi (Spain), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Sami Khedira (Germany), Sergio Busquets (Spain), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Xabi Alonso (Spain)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Italy), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Zlatan Ibrahimovoic (Sweden), David Silva (Spain)

Reuters/AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, ukraine, spain

First posted July 02, 2012 20:24:20

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