FIFA world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo won three awards at LFP’s La Liga 2013/14 awards evening Monday as not a single player from champions Atletico Madrid picked up a prize, something that has left the world of football gobsmacked.
Ronaldo received ‘Best forward of La Liga’ award for his performances last season, as well as ‘Best Goal’ for his back heel volley against Valencia that levelled the game late on at the Bernebeu, securing a hat-trick with ‘Best player of the season’ for his campaign last season that saw him fire 31 goals, but couldn’t help Real to the title, as they finished in a disappointing third position.
Elsewhere, Diego Simeone received unsurprisingly ‘Best coach’ for his efforts helping Atletico secure that remarkable BBVA title last season, right at the death at the Camp Nou, their first league title since 1996.
Luka Modric won ‘Best midfielder’ whilst Andres Iniesta was crowned ‘Best attacking-midfielder’ for their displays across the course of last season. There was a Sevilla double as former-captain Ivan Rakitic, who moved to Barcelona in the summer won the ‘fair-play’ prize and Carlos Bacca won the ‘Best American player’ for last season.
Real Madrid’s new goalkeeper Keylor Navas somehow beat Thibaut Courtois to winning ‘Best goalkeeper’ and Sergio Ramos surprised a few people beating Diego Godin to the ‘Best defender’ prize. Yacine Brahimi won ‘Best African player’ and Barcelona youth product Rafinha won ‘Best breakthrough player’ for his performances at Celta Vigo last campaign.
In Liga Adelante, Newcastle United forward Ayoze Perez celebrated his first goal, Sunday’s winner at Tottenham, by picking up two awards for his impressive season at Tenerife. He was named ‘Best revelation player’ and the ‘Best attacking midfielder’ after bagging 16 goals for the Canary Islanders during the 2013/14 campaign, which earned him a move to the Premier League this summer.
The awards gala will somewhat receive scrutiny for the board’s decision that no Atletico Madrid player would be awarded with a prize, even after a remarkable season led them to winning the BBVA title, it remains a mystery.