Andres Iniesta is named Europe’s best player by Uefa

BARCELONA midfielder Andres Iniesta won the Uefa Best Player in Europe award for the 2011-12 season last night. Iniesta earned 19 votes in the poll of journalists from across Europe, two more than Barcelona teammate and last year’s winner, Lionel Messi, and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 28-year-old Iniesta was instrumental in helping Spain successfully defend its European Championship title this summer and was crowned the tournament’s best player.

A three-man shortlist was selected by a panel of 53 journalists.