With the conclusion of the 2017/18 La Liga season, we’re handing out of end-of-season awards and this time we look at the player of the season.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

The Argentine is so supremely talented he makes you want to select someone else and place him in a category of his own.

He is the chief reason for Barcelona’s title success this season and the very fact he was missing for their only league defeat of the campaign to Levante embodies his importance.

He has appeared emboldened by the Ballon d’Or defeat to Ronaldo last year and while his Portuguese nemesis dropped off at the start of the campaign, he ascended to impossibly new heights. Indeed, he plundered against Real, scored a stunning free-kick to defeat Atletico, notched hat-tricks to demolish Deportivo and Espanyol with four arriving against Eibar.

WORTHY MENTIONS

Cristiano Ronaldo

In terms of goals, this was actually Ronaldo’s joint second-worst tally since joining Real Madrid. But considering 22 of his 26 goals have arrived since the turn of the year, he more than warrants a spot in behind his arch-rival Messi.

Joaquin

Real Betis have been the most entertaining side in La Liga this term and at the heart of their enterprising style was a 36-year-old Joaquin. Operating as a No10, the dynamism has remained and to his credit, so too, has the legs. He’s still one of the most talented Spanish players in La Liga.

Diego Godin