Press Trust of India
Dubai, Dec 28: Barcelona and their star player Lionel Messi dominated the seventh edition of the Globe Soccer Awards here Sunday evening, taking home the prizes for best team and best player.
Messi had travelled from Argentina to attend the ceremony Sunday. “It’s very nice to receive these awards, but I always say that the team makes it possible,” said Messi. “It’s been an extraordinary year. But then I would like to state that like collective trophies that individual ones are also very important. The ‘best player’ award is definitely a great motivation.
The Argentine, however, downplayed his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. “We are two different types of players,” said Messi. “And remember, a good player becomes great because of the effort of his teammates.”
Barcelona won five titles in 2015 – the La Liga, the Copa del Rey, Champions League, European Super Cup and the World Club Cup. Only the Spanish Super Cup eluded them with a loss to Athletic Bilbao. “I believe that it will be impossible for us to match the feat. But as a team we will definitely try to better it,” Messi asserted.
Belgian coach Marc Wilmots was named best manager while Benfica took the award for best club academy.
Italy’s Andrea Pirlo and England’s Frank Lampard were lauded and felicitated for their long careers.