Antoine Griezmann beats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to be named best player in La Liga
The Atletico Madrid striker surprisingly surpassed his two rivals at the Spanish top flight's annual award ceremony
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN has surprisingly been named La Liga's top player.
The Atletico Madrid man went up against the likes of Lionel Messi for the prize and came out on top.
And the decision comes as a shock as the Frenchman was not featured in the best striker category and was not named in the team of the season.
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Cristiano Ronaldo - who headed the Ballon d'Or nominations following his Champions League and Euro 2016 triumphs - was not even in the running for the gong.
Messi had won the award six of the last seven seasons but had to settle for the best striker award while Luis Suarez was recognised as La Liga's 'world player'.
Griezmann also won the supporters' award at the ceremony in Valencia last night.
Players from Atletico, Barcelona and Real Madrid were dominant in the team of the year and made up all 11 places.
Jan Oblak and Diego Godin were named as La Liga's best goalkeeper and best defender, while their boss Diego Simeone his third coach of the year award in four seasons.
Luka Modric won the best midfielder award who previously shared the award with Barca captain Andres Iniesta in 2013-14.
Marco Asensio was named as La Liga's best emerging player following an impressive loan spell at Espanyol last term.