Messi beats Cristiano Ronaldo in 2014-15 La Liga awards

The Brazil captain expects Messi to win the Ballon d’Or and feels Suarez should have been included to make it a clean sweep of Barcelona nominations.

Messi has been linked with City in recent weeks, while the Red Devils are said to chasing Neymar, with the Brazilian yet to sign a new deal with Barca.

Messi will find out in January if he wins the Federation Internationale de Football Association player of the year – but the Argentine did not have to wait to be named La Liga’s player and striker of the year.

“I’m proud to receive this award ahead of so many important players in La Liga”, said Messi. The Argentina forward helped Barcelona win the treble last season, and is the bookies’ favourite to win a fifth Ballon d’Or next year.

“I’d wish to dedicate this award to my son, Thiago”.

“When I leave home, he always gets mad and says: ‘Are you going to the goal again?’ Yes, I tell him, I’m going to the goal!”

Even before the award was merged with France Football’s Ballon d’Or in 2010, the men’s World Player of the Year had effectively become an annual private “Clasico” between two of the great players of any generation.

“Being nominated for the Ballon d’Or means rather a lot”, Neymar stated.

The Portuguese forward and Messi have accounted for the last seven FIFA Ballon d’Or titles, Barcelona’s talisman winning four to Ronaldo’s three. “Messi and Cristiano have already passed their peak”, added Ronaldo, who won the award in 1996, 1997 and 2002.

He played a crucial role in Barcelona’s 2014-15 Champions League triumph, netting 10 goals to be the competition’s equal top scorer alongside Ronaldo and Messi.

FC Barcelona are reportedly being pushed to their financial limits to keep superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar, especially with the Premier League being a huge threat.

Barca picked up five of the prizes, while rivals Real Madrid won two.