Enjoy your new contract, Lionel Messi, but it won't be enough to buy your place into the official 2013-14 La Liga Team of the Year.
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The official list was released on Monday, with Messi's exclusion being the one glaring flaw. The 26-year-old made 31 appearances for Barcelona this season, finishing with 28 goals and 11 assists. Only Cristiano Ronaldo was able to find the back of the net more than Messi this season. Only six players—Markel Susaeta, Gareth Bale, Carlos Vela, Koke, Cesc Fabregas and Angel Di Maria—were able to assist more than the Argentine.
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Here is the full team of the year with a graphical representation of its tactics (4-4-2): Thibaut Courtois (Atlético Madrid); Luis Filipe (Atlético Madrid), Diego Godin (Atlético Madrid), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club Bilbao), Juanfran (Atlético Madrid); Gabi (Atlético Madrid), Ander Iturraspe (Athletic Club Bilbao), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Koke (Atlético Madrid); Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Diego Costa (Atlético Madrid)
Obviously, in a 4-4-2 setup, Messi's inclusion as a striker is far from ideal. His tactical position in La Liga's team of the year would and should be in the attacking midfielder role awarded to Ivan Rakitic.
In 34 appearances with Sevilla this season, the 26-year-old has far less goals (12) and less assists (10) than his La Liga counterpart. The only mark Rakitic boasts over Messi is in the trophy department, as Sevilla were able to lift the UEFA Europa League title.
Barcelona finished 2014 trophyless.
Is that, however, enough to snub Lionel Messi from the 2013-14 La Liga team of the year? Tell us @SportsWN
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