Internet Desk : Barcelona’s Lionel Messi was voted Best Playmaker of the Year by The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) on Monday . Messi’s coach at Barcelona 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.
Luis Enrique , who won the Best Club Coach Award 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.
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).