Messi wins 2015 ESPY for Best International Athlete

Barcelona forward Leo Messi has won the 2015 ESPY award for the Best International Athlete, the second time the Argentine has won the ESPN award.

Messi is one of the most successful and celebrated athletes in the world and after a year that saw him a finalist in the 2014 World Cup and the Copa America with Argentina and play a massive role in Barcelona winning the treble for a second time in history, the four-time Ballon d'Or winner was awarded with North American sports television giant, ESPN's version of the Oscar as the Best International Athlete.

The Barcelona forward beat out 'El Clasico' rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the award last year, as well as Novak Djokovic, Lewis Hamilton and Lydia Ko.

Messi previously won the award back in 2011 and has again received the honour due to his incredible success on the pitch, where he collected three trophies (La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League) this season.

The 28-year-old also scored a total of 58 goals and 23 assists in 51 appearances in all three competitions with Barcelona this past season.

The award was given to Messi on the same day UEFA announced that he joined nine other footballers on the shortlist for the Best Player in Europe award and early indications are that the La Masia graduate is the favourite to win his fifth Ballon d'Or again next January.

/By AzerTac/