For the first time since 2006, someone other than Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has been crowned as Argentina's best player of the year.
Thanks to his good performances for Real Madrid during their 10th Champions League-winning season, as well as at the World Cup and now with Manchester United, Angel Di Maria has beaten out both the four-time Ballon d'Or winner and Manchester City ace Sergio Aguero to the annual prize.
Although Messi has scored eight times as many goals--56 versus his seven--Di Maria has recorded 25 assists as compared to Messi's 21.
Moreover, the record-breaking Premier League signing, who joined the Red Devils this summer for a staggering £60 million fee, has been a key part in Louis Van Gaal's side enjoying a better run of form so far this season. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old suffered an injury this summer in Brazil and was unable to feature in the final versus Germany--the first since since 1990 that Argentina had made it to the final of a World Cup.
Check out how the media and fans reacted to Di Maria unseating Messi as Argentina's best player
#Messi per una volta a bocca asciutta: è #DiMaria il calciatore argentino dell'anno http://t.co/kRfW26dAmy pic.twitter.com/ZAG1vcGf3N
— Goal Italia (@GoalItalia) December 17, 2014
(Messi for once comes away empty handed. Di Maria is Argentina's footballer of the year)
1st time since 2006, #Messi was not the Argentinean player of the year. Now that's something! Wow! Congrats to #DiMaria but Respect Messi.
— USMAN (@theusmanshaikh) December 17, 2014
footmemes: #DiMaria pic.twitter.com/y6vVn7VsTb
— Goal.PH (@GoalPH) December 17, 2014
That Argentine player of the year award 2014 to #DiMaria has come just after his recovery and its gonna boost his confidence and recovery !
— Wowsim. (@TaleOfWinter) December 17, 2014 
