Football
Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent 7y

Barcelona's Lionel Messi wins La Liga player of the month for second time

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been named La Liga's player of the month for April after scoring eight goals in six league games, including a stoppage time winner against Real Madrid.

It's just the second time Messi has won the award since it was introduced ahead of the 2013-14 season.

The Argentine has scored 51 times in 49 appearances in all competitions this season and has 35 league goals, nine more than Luis Suarez who is the second top scorer in Spain's top flight.

April saw Messi score braces against Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Madrid and Osasuna, with his display in the Blaugrana's 3-2 win over at the Santiago Bernabeu the standout display.

It helped Luis Enrique's side move back to the top of La Liga, although the title is still in Madrid's hands as they have a game in hand.

Messi began May with two goals in last weekend's 4-1 win against Villarreal, too, and now has 504 goals in official competitions for Barca since making his debut against Espanyol in 2004.

The only time Messi has previously won the Player of the Month award was in January 2016 after he scored six goals in five appearances.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Godin and Carlos Vela are among the other players to have won the prize twice, but no-one has won it more times than Antoine Griezmann. The Atletico Madrid striker has been named La Liga's Player of the Month on four occasions, including twice in the current campaign.

Messi's contract with Barcelona expires next summer but the club have been keen to send a positive message to fans this week with regards to him extending his stay at Camp Nou beyond 2018.

Vice president Jordi Mestre said last weekend that there would be good news in the coming weeks and club spokesman Josep Vives echoed those comments on Wednesday.

"The renewal is very close [to being finalised] and we hope to announce it soon," Vives said.

Barca travel to Las Palmas this weekend and then end the season at home to Eibar next Sunday, while Madrid host Sevilla on Sunday and then have away games against Celta Vigo and Malaga.

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