Lionel Messi wins the La Liga player of the month award Lionel Messi wins the La Liga player of the month award

Lionel Messi has been named La Liga player of the month for January. For the first time he has won the award. Messi scored six times that month, nine times in March 2014 (including consecutive hat-tricks), five in October 2014, nine the following month, seven in February 2015 and four times last December.

• The Barcelona forward was honoured at the 23rd time of asking after scoring six goals in as many league games in January.
• The award has been given out since the beginning of the 2013-14 Primera División season but the five-times Ballon d’Or winner had not won it until now.

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award twice since it began in September 2013, as have the Atlético pair Diego Godín and Antoine Griezmann and the Real Sociedad striker Carlos Vela.