Celia Šašić and Lionel Messi voted UEFA Best Players in Europe 2014/15

042 - Awards presented at Monaco ceremony during UEFA Champions League draw

Celia Šašić has been named UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe for the 2014/15 season at a ceremony which took place during the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League group stage draw at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

The former 1. FFC Frankfurt and Germany forward claimed a total of 11 votes. Olympique Lyonnais and France midfielder Amandine Henry came second with 4 and 1. FFC Frankfurt and German international Dzsenifer Marozsán was third with 3 votes.

The jury, selected by European Sports Media Group (ESM) and comprising 18 journalists who regularly report on women’s football, cast their final votes via an electronic system based on the shortlist of the top three players from the second round of voting. The initial shortlist of ten players had been provided by the coaches of the eight teams which took part in last season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals, together with the eight coaches of the European teams which participated at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Receiving the award on stage from UEFA President Michel Platini, 27-year-old Šašić said:

"It's amazing [to win this award]. But I also want to say that this is a trophy for my team-mates from the national team and from FFC Frankfurt. I have the best job, I am a striker but my team-mates are the ones who give me good balls, so it's for them too."

FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was subsequently crowned the winner of the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for the 2014/15 season.

The Argentinian international claimed a total of 49 votes, with FC Barcelona and Uruguay’s forward Luis Suárez (3 votes) and Real Madrid CF and Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo (2 votes) occupying second and third place respectively.

The jury was composed of 54 renowned sports journalists representing each of the UEFA member associations. The journalists voted live via an electronic voting system to select the winner from the three final nominees.

Presented the award on stage by UEFA President Michel Platini, 28-year-old Lionel Messi said:

"I want to thank all my team-mates after winning this trophy because the truth is that they are part of it. Without them I wouldn't be here. It was an incredible year for us."

The UEFA Best Player in Europe awards are based on players’ performances during the 2014/15 season in all competitions, both domestic and international, and at club and national team levels.

Full details of the voting results for both awards, together with lists of previous winners, can be found on UEFA.org