La Liga: Antoine Griezmann breaks Lionel Messi's monopoly to win player of the season award

Madrid: Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann was named La Liga player of the season for 2015/16 on Monday, ahead of the likes of star duo Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. [caption id=“attachment_3070426” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Antoine Griezmann. AFP[/caption] Atletico’s Diego Simeone also took the coach of the season award while Barcelona’s Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was named the top non-EU player. Curiously, though, Barca’s Argentina international Messi was recognised as the best forward at the award ceremony in Valencia. Atletico dominated the awards as Jan Oblak was best goalkeeper, Diego Godin top defender and Frenchman Griezmann also claimed the fans’ award. Real Madrid weren’t left empty-handed, though, as Luka Modric was named best midfielder. This is the first time since the 2008/09 season – the year when the end of season awards were established – that someone other than La Liga’s star forwards Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo has won the player of the season award. Messi has won six, while Ronaldo has won in the 2013-14 season, the year Real Madrid won the Champions League. Griezmann was also nominated for the UEFA Player of the Year trophy but lost out to European champion Cristiano Ronaldo earlier this year. All three of them were also unveiled as FIFA Ballon d’Or nominees on Monday. With inputs from AFP