Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos vies with Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on November 21, 2015. AFP PHOTO / CURTO DE LA TORRE Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos vies with Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on November 21, 2015. AFP PHOTO / CURTO DE LA TORRE

In a stellar 12-year career, Lionel Messi has won the world player of the year award five times and broken endless goalscoring records, but he had never been named player of the month in Spain, until now. The 28-year-old Argentine forward received the award for La Liga's player of the month for January on Friday, the first time he has won a prize inaugurated in 2013.

His eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo won the award back in November 2013 and the likes of Atletico Madrid pair Antoine Griezmann and Diego Godin and Nolito of Celta Vigo have won it twice. Messi, meanwhile, has had to wait until now despite winning the La Liga title seven times in his career.

AFP

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