The charismatic Argentinian striker played a crucial role in FC Barcelona’s outstanding 2014/15 season, in which the Spanish team won the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey treble. With ten goals, Messi became the first player to be top scorer or joint top scorer in five Champions League seasons. Among his 43 goals in La Liga, he scored a record 32nd hat-trick for Barcelona. He is currently on a shortlist of three, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, to win a fifth Ballon d’Or/World Player of the Year Award (to be announced on January 11). This is the fifth time he has been nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award.