体坛英语新闻：Lionel Messi awarded Spain's Player of the Month for September

MADRID, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona striker Lionel Messi was named the best player in La Liga Santander for September, the Spanish Football League confirmed on Wednesday.

Despite Barca's recent patchy form, the Argentinean scored three goals during September, one against Girona and two against Huesca, and also laid on four assists for his teammates.

The news comes just one day after the 14th anniversary of Messi's debut in the Barca first team in a match against local rivals Espanyol, at the age of 17 years, 3 months and 22 days old.

He will be given the September Player of the Month award in the Camp Nou Stadium ahead of Barca's clash with La Liga's early pacesetters Sevilla on Saturday night.