Spain’s La Liga came to a close last week with FC Barcelona crowned champions but who were the stars of the season and who deserves the ultimate individual honour.
5. Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)
Appearances: 36, Goals: 18, Assists: 5
The Italian striker has always promised plenty but the 2010/11 La Liga campaign was the term he showed he can actually produce the goods. He actually scored 32 goals in all competitions this season, with Villarreal’s Europa League run to the semi-finals. Rossi’s attacking play caused all sorts of problems for defences and now he’s being sought after by a number of admirers. That’s a blow for the Yellow Submarine as he was a key to their fourth-place finish.
4. Gerard Pique (FC Barcelona)
Appearances: 31, Goals: 3, Assists: 1
The 24-year-old Spanish central defender had arguably his best La Liga campaign, and he had to. The regular absence of Barca’s key defender Carles Puyol left Pique with a big burden but he showed he’s more than capable of filling the void. The former Manchester United man is comfortable bringing the ball out of defence and also has the maturity and leadership required to keep the defence tight.
3. Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona)
Appearances: 34, Goals: 8, Assists: 3
After scoring the winner in Spain’s 2010 World Cup final over the Netherlands, Iniesta carried on some fine form into the 2010/11 La Liga campaign. The Spaniard midfielder had an injury-free campaign much to his benefit as he produced some stellar performances in an advanced role producing his best return of goals in his career.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Appearances: 34, Goals: 40, Assists: 10
The Portuguese attacker claimed the Pichichi award late on in the season, with a flood of goals in the dying stages of the term. There’s denying Ronaldo is an incredible talent and has had a wonderful campaign for Los Merengues. After all, he set a new La Liga record for most goals. That says plenty. He managed to stay injury free this term and showed he has it all with goals from free-kicks, headers and shot from both feet. Always a danger and provided plenty of output.
1. Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Appearances: 33, Goals: 31, Assists: 18
Saturday’s UEFA Champions League summed it all up. Messi is brilliant and he is brilliant when is matters. Ronaldo may have topped the goalscoring charts but Messi was actually involved in more goals with the combination of 31 goals and 18 assists. It’s funny to think Messi is only 23-years-old and that there’s more improvement in him. He was the key to Barcelona’s title success with his menacing play in attack and looms as La Liga’s star player for the next five years.