Lionel Messi Named Best Playmaker by Football Historians
Four times Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi received his first award as the
Argentine star Lionel Messi was chosen as the World's Playmaker of the Year by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) while Barcelona coach Luis Enrique was named the World's Best Club Coach in 2015.
Four times Ballon d'Or winner Messi received his first award as the IFFHS World Playmaker of the Year as the award was given to Real Madrid player Toni Kroos in 2014.
The Argentine acquired 168 points, a sizable margin ahead of teammate Andres Iniesta (91), winner of the award in 2012 and 2013. Italian Andrea Pirlo of New York City came third with 54 points, followed by Belgian Eden Hazard of Chelsea and Kevin de Bruyne of VFL Wolfsburg/Manchester City, both receiving 22 points.
The Barcelona coach, who won with 165 points, beat compatriot Pep Guardiola, Bayern Munich coach, by a large margin as Guardiola obtained 86 points while Italian Massimiliano Allegri had 43 points after his excellent season with Juventus where he led his side to the Champions League final and won the Italian league and Cup titles, reports Efe.
Sevilla coach Unai Emery, winner of the Europa League, came fourth with 39 points ahead of Marcello Gallardo (33), who led River Plate to win the Copa Libertadores and were finalists in the FIFA Club World Cup against champions Barcelona.
Italian Carlo Ancelotti, former coach of Real Madrid and new coach of Bayern Munich, was ranked sixth with 19 points, seven ahead of Argentine Diego Simeone, coach of Atletico Madrid.
Ivorian Yaya Toure of Manchester City had 13 points, ahead of Real Madrid players Toni Kroos (11 points), Luka Modric (11) and James Rodriguez (10).
Nicola Rizzoli was named the World's Best Referee for the second year in a row with 80 points, eight points more than English Martin Atkinson, who came second, followed by Turkish Cuneyt Cakir (71).