Messi,Ronaldo,Iniesta shine at La Liga Awards
The La Liga BBVA Awards for the 2012-13 season was held monday night in Madrid and despite Real Madrid Forward, Cristiano Ronaldo winning the ‘Most Valuable Player’ award, it was Barcelona Forward Lionel Messi who won the most prestigious awards for La Liga’s best player and best attacker after having guided Barcelona to the title despite recurring injury issues.
Diego Simeone, Sergio Ramos, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Thibaut Courtois, Asier Illarramendi and Gerard Deulofeu were among those also honoured at a ceremony.
Messi won the official ‘Player of the Season’ award, and also beat off competition from former Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo and Ronaldo to take the prize for Best Liga BBVA Forward.
The Argentine who couldn’t attend the ceremony as he is currently in Argentina recovering from his troublesome run of muscle injuries, said:
“I would like to thank the LFP and the Liga BBVA for this prize,” Messi said. “It is a recognition of the [Barca players’] work all year and without them I would not have scored these goals.”
While receiving his award however, Ronaldo said,“It is an honour and privilege to receive this great award for the Most Valuable Player — it motivates me to keep working harder,I am proud to be in the Liga BBVA. For me, this is the best league in the world and I am at the best club in the world. How could I not be happy? Hopefully next year I can win the award for the best player. I will be working towards it.”
Iniesta, who beat Madrid’s Isco and former Sevilla winger Jesus Navas to take the best attacking midfielder prize, remembered the role played by former coach Tito Vilanova and defender Eric Abidal in Barca’s emotional last campaign.
“I would like to thank all the people who valued my work last season, This award is worth more because last season was a difficult one for people like Tito and Abidal.”
Atletico Madrid’s coach, Simeone won the award for La Liga’s best coach; Illarramendi, Madrid’s summer signing from Real Sociedad, won two awards, for best defensive midfielder — ahead of Benat of Athletic Bilbao and Javi Fuego of Valencia — and for being the ‘breakthrough’ player of the last campaign, ahead of Sevilla’s Alberto Moreno and Leo Baptistao of Atletico.
Madrid defender Ramos saw off competition from Barca’s Jordi Alba and Inigo Martinez of Real Sociedad to be named the best defender.
The award for best goalkeeper went to Thibaut Courtois, ahead of Barca’s Victor Valdes and Malaga’s Willy Caballero, while Madrid’s Casillas, who has had limited game time since a clash of personalities with then Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was awarded the Fair Play award.
Everton attacker Gerard Deulofeu, on loan from Barcelona, was named as the Segunda Division’s best player of 2012-13 and Elche coach Fran Escriba and defender Edu Albacar, Almeria goalkeeper Esteban and Villarreal midfielder Bruno were also recognised, as were attackers Charles, who is now with Celta Vigo, Vitolo, now of Sevilla, and Chuli, who now plays for Betis.