The Barcelona superstar could have an award named in his honour to commemorate the best player in the league
Lionel Messi is "the best in football history" and La Liga president Javier Tebas is open to naming a trophy for the competition's best player in his honour.
Barcelona superstar Messi, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, is LaLiga's all-time leading goalscorer on 390 and has lifted the title on nine occasions.
The Spanish top-flight's end-of-season awards have not been handed out since the 2015-16 campaign due to a desire to reformat, and Tebas would be keen to show recognition for the 31-year-old in the same way daily sports newspaper Marca have named accolades after Telmo Zarra, Rafael 'Pichichi' Moreno and Ricardo Zamora.
Asked about dedicating a trophy to Messi, Tebas told Omnisport: "I like that idea, we would have to think about.
"I think Messi will be the best in football history, he already is.
"Some people talk about Neymar but he is already 26 years old and as far as I remember Messi started to play for Barcelona as a youngster and he surprises us every year he seems not to have limits and he plays at a maximum level.
"He is the best and I think it's a great idea to create a trophy for the best player every season named [after] Leo Messi.
"If it is Zarra for the best scorer…I think it's a great idea."
Ernesto Valverde, though, insists that they still miss arguably the finest player in their history.
"For us, since last week when he got injured, we were probably thinking how we would respond on the pitch," he told a news conference.
"There's only one answer, you have to respond as a team and that's what we've done. The result could've been different but that's the only answer we can give you.
"We're delighted for the team but obviously the sooner he's back the better for us because we miss him. We want him back tomorrow."
Nesaiknruy_Legend
479
If you know football, and even if you don't, deep down you know Messi is the best. What Messi can bring to a team no player can. I've never seen such a complete player. Mostly players are known for either Passing or goal threat. But it's rare to find a player known for both and that at an exceptional level. The passing of Xavi and the finishing of CR7 on 1 player. It's insane to think a player of this level even existed in this era.... Even staunch CR7 fans know deep in their hearts that Messi is better and far more complete but can't admit it as it would go against everything they stand for. I don't think there's a single footballer who can do what Messi does at a higher level be it passing, shooting or dribbling..... truly lucky to have seen a once in a generation talent play the game. His only hindrance is psychological since his desire is not that great, maybe it stems from already being considered the best but his output when he was younger and new on the scene was insane, a ruthless player. 90 goals in a season. Even now that's a scary number.
sunnysayus
264
Messi has done a lot to develop LA. liga.He is the best la liga player of all time.His faithfulness and loyalty are unparalleled. His name will go down the history book of la liga and world at large.This gesture is a very good one and it will encourage other players to so well and earn honours in soccer world.
Akr22
231
There is no doubt he do the things regularly which are dream of other great footballers. Messi The GOAT.
Rolantino78
11
If you know football, and even if you don't, deep down you know Messi is the best. What Messi can bring to a team no player can. I've never seen such a complete player. Mostly players are known for either Passing or goal threat. But it's rare to find a player known for both and that at an exceptional level. The passing of Xavi and the finishing of CR7 on 1 player. It's insane to think a player of this level even existed in this era.... Even staunch CR7 fans know deep in their hearts that Messi is better and far more complete but can't admit it as it would go against everything they stand for. I don't think there's a single footballer who can do what Messi does at a higher level be it passing, shooting or dribbling..... truly lucky to have seen a once in a generation talent play the game. His only hindrance is psychological since his desire is not that great, maybe it stems from already being considered the best but his output when he was younger and new on the scene was insane, a ruthless player. 90 goals in a season. Even now that's a scary number.
I agree with that messi is best player of laliga but let us just statistical is 9yrs play with cr7 in the league goal and see how much better is cr7 also,but my own conclusion is that the both are extraordinary players bcoz they set ambitious records back to back in decade