Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann has been named the best player in La Liga at a bizarre awards ceremony held in Valencia on Monday evening.

Griezmann beat out a host of top-class opposition to claim the gong, including the likes of Barcelona trio Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. The player also shrugged off the challenge of Cristiano Ronaldo, favourite for the Ballon d’Or, who was surprisingly not even shortlisted for a La Liga prize.

The French player’s triumph was all the more unexpected given he was not nominated for the best striker award, nor was he named in the La Liga team of the season, announced back in June.

Messi was afforded some consolation as he was named the best striker in the competition ahead of Suarez and Athletic Bilbao veteran Aritz Aduriz, while Suarez was honoured with the La Liga World Player gong in a seemingly contradictory set of results.

Griezmann, meanwhile, also claimed the supporters’ award, while neither the Frenchman nor the Barca trio bothered to attend the ceremony.

Elsewhere, Atletico pair Jan Oblak and Diego Godin were named the best goalkeeper and best defender respectively, while club manager Diego Simeone was crowned the best manager.

Luka Modric of Real was awarded the best midfielder prize, while teammate Marco Asensio was named as La Liga’s best emerging player.pell at Espanyol last term.