Lionel Messi was voted Thursday the inaugural winner of the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, dpa reported. Barcelona's Argentina striker beat club team-mate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in a poll of 53 sports journalists representing each of the UEFA member associations. "I'd like to thank all the people that voted for me, and all my team-mates," Messi said at the awards ceremony in Monaco. Messi, 24, scored scored 53 goals last season, including 12 in the Champions League, where he finished as the top scorer for the third season in succession, scoring in the 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the final.