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Messi recognised as Europe's finest

Lionel Messi, a pivotal figure in FC Barcelona's march to UEFA Champions League glory last season, collected the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award in Monaco.

Edwin van der Sar, Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernández and John Terry pose with their UEFA Club Footballer of the Year titles in Monaco
Edwin van der Sar, Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernández and John Terry pose with their UEFA Club Footballer of the Year titles in Monaco ©Getty Images

Lionel Messi, a key figure in FC Barcelona's march to UEFA Champions League glory last season, has more to celebrate after collecting the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year prize at the UEFA Club Football Awards in Monaco. The Argentinian international was also selected as Best Forward while team-mate Xavi Hernández took the Best Midfielder trophy. Manchester United FC's Edwin van der Sar was nominated Best Goalkeeper and Chelsea FC captain John Terry completed the honours list as he received his third Best Defender gong from Paolo Maldini.

Sensational season
Messi had scored Barcelona's second goal – his ninth of the 2008/09 competition – in the UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United in Rome, as the Catalan side became the first Spanish team to lift the Liga, Copa del Rey and European Champion Clubs' Cup titles in one season. If the headed goal from Messi that capped his sensational campaign was a collector's item, his presence on the scoresheet was more predictable: the 22-year-old struck 38 goals in all competitions last term.

'Important award'
Messi succeeds Cristiano Ronaldo as the Club Footballer of the Year and is the second Argentinian international to land the prize after Fernando Redondo in 2000. "It is an enormous joy to be able to receive such an important award as this," he said. "And it's also a pleasure to be able to thank all the people who voted for me and who decided I should get this award."

UEFA Club Footballer of the Year
YearPlayerClub
2009Lionel MessiFC Barcelona
2008Cristiano RonaldoManchester United FC
2007KakáAC Milan
2006RonaldinhoFC Barcelona
2005Steven GerrardLiverpool FC
2004DecoFC Porto
2003Gianluigi BuffonJuventus FC
2002Zinedine ZidaneReal Madrid CF
2001Stefan EffenbergFC Bayern München
2000Fernando RedondoReal Madrid CF
1999David BeckhamManchester United FC
1998RonaldoFC Internazionale Milano

Best Goalkeeper
YearPlayerClub
2009Edwin van der SarManchester United FC FC
2008Petr ČechChelsea FC
2007Petr ČechChelsea FC
2006Jens LehmannArsenal FC
2005Petr ČechChelsea FC
2004Vítor BaíaFC Porto
2003Gianluigi BuffonJuventus
2002Oliver KahnFC Bayern München
2001Oliver KahnFC Bayern München
2000Oliver KahnFC Bayern München
1999Oliver KahnFC Bayern München
1998Peter SchmeichelManchester United FC

Best Defender
YearPlayerClub
2009John TerryChelsea FC
2008John TerryChelsea FC
2007Paolo MaldiniAC Milan
2006Carles PuyolFC Barcelona
2005John TerryChelsea FC
2004Ricardo CarvalhoFC Porto
2003Roberto CarlosReal Madrid CF
2002Roberto CarlosReal Madrid CF
2001Roberto AyalaValencia CF
2000Jaap StamManchester United FC
1999Jaap StamManchester United FC
1998Fernando HierroReal Madrid CF

Best Midfielder
YearPlayerClub
2009Xavi HernándezFC Barcelona
2008Frank LampardChelsea FC
2007Clarence SeedorfAC Milan
2006DecoFC Barcelona
2005KakáAC Milan
2004DecoFC Porto
2003Pavel NedvědJuventus
2002Michael BallackFC Bayern München
2001Gaizka MendietaValencia CF
2000Gaizka MendietaValencia CF
1999David BeckhamManchester United FC
1998Zinédine ZidaneJuventus

Best Forward
YearPlayerClub
2009Lionel MessiFC Barcelona
2008Cristiano RonaldoManchester United FC
2007KakáAC Milan
2006Samuel Eto'oFC Barcelona
2005RonaldinhoFC Barcelona
2004Fernando MorientesAS Monaco FC
2003Ruud van NistelrooyManchester United FC
2002Raúl GonzálezReal Madrid CF
2001Raúl GonzálezReal Madrid CF
2000Raúl GonzálezReal Madrid CF
1999Andriy ShevchenkoFC Dynamo Kyiv
1998RonaldoFC Internazionale Milano

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