Lionel Messi Wins Best Footballer Of The Year Award Ahead Of Arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi Wins Best Footballer Of The Year Award Ahead Of Arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo

- Lionel Messi has been named 2016/2017 La Liga footballer of the year

- He was also awarded the pichichi for being the top goalscorer

- Club teammate was named the Spanish footballer of the year

Lionel Messi has been named the 2016/2017 La Liga player of the year for the 5th time in his career(2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2017).

La Pulga subsequently received the Trofeo Alfredo Di Stefano at a ceremony hosted by Marca on Monday, December 18.

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In addition, he was given the Pichichi Trophy after being the scorer of the same in the 2016/17 season.

Messi scored 37 goals in 34 goals ahead of teammate Luis Suarez who scored 29 goals in 35 games and Cristiano Ronaldo who scored 25 goals in 29 games.

Meanwhile, club teammate Andres Iniesta was named Spain's best player after helping his country to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

In other awards Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak was named the goalkeeper of the year while Celta Vigo was given the Zarra trophy for being the Spanish top scorer in La Liga.

Barcelona who face Real Madrid in their game are six points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid and 11 points ahead of Los Blancos.

The upcoming EL Clasico will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, December 23. Kick off at 1pm.