Spain's Player of the Month award still eludes Barcelona

New Delhi: Strange, it may sound! But not a single Barcelona player has won the coveted Player of the Month award in Spain. Popular in other leagues, and which recognises the best player each month of a season, the award was introduced in Spain in September 2013.

In this period the Catalans have lifted La Liga trophy twice in 2014 and 2015, and finished second in 2014 to Atletico Madrid. And despite flaunting some of the best talents in world football including four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, the club is yet to open their Player of the Month account.

Interestingly, Atletico players have received the award six times - most for any club with their stars Diego Godin and Antoine Griezmann winning twice each. In fact, Diego Costa won the first ever award in September 2013 while he was still with Atletico.

Other players who have won the award more than once are Real Madrid super star Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Sociedad's Mexican winger Carlos Vela. Besides Ronaldo, Karim Benzema is the only other Real player to win the award.

For the record, the current Barca players Ivan Rakitic and Rafinha have won the award while they were with Sevilla and Celta Vigo respectively.