Messi, Celia Sasic win Uefa's best players in Europe award

Lionel Messi was voted Uefa's best player in Europe for 2014-2015 at the Champions League draw ceremony in Monaco, while Germany's Celia Sasic won the women's award.

FC Barcelona's Argentinian striker Lionel Messi was voted Uefa's best player in Europe for the 2014-2015 season at the Uefa Champions League draw ceremony in Monaco on Thursday, while Germany's Celia Sasic won the women's award.

FC Barcelona's Argentinian striker Lionel Messi poses with the Best Men's player in Europe trophy at the end of the Uefa Champions League Group stage draw ceremony, on August 27, 2015 in Monaco. (AFP Photo)

Messi, who won the Champions League, Spain's La Liga and the Spanish Cup with Barcelona, claimed the award for the second time ahead of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez.

"I am happy to win the award. I thank all my teammates because they deserve part of it. I depend a lot on the team like everyone else," the 28-year-old said.

Messi also won the award in 2010-2011 and succeeds Ronaldo, who won last year.

FFC Frankfurt's Sasic, 27, was voted the best women's player ahead of France's Amandine Henry and fellow German Dzsenifer Marozsan.

Sasic, who retired last month, was the top scorer in the Champions League, which Frankfurt won, the Bundesliga and at the Women's World Cup in Canada, where she won the Golden Boot award.