POSTED August 27, 2009
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Lionel Messi is officially the best player in Europe, according to UEFA who today named him as both the overall winner of the award and as the best club attacking player in the continent over the past year, when his club Barcelona swept all before them.
The Argentine was up against some stiff competition for the best forward prize, in the shape of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, who reached the final of the Champions League and won the Premier League with Manchester United, and his own former team-mate Samuel Eto'o, now in Italy at Inter.
Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez was also confirmed as UEFA's club midfielder of the year at today's Champions League draw in Moncao, having beaten off competition from club colleague Andres Iniesta and Liverpool's talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard.
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