Europe's top performers for February were whittled down to a three-man shortlist in consultation with WhoScored.com and ESPN FC's writers
Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery were those in contention, despite the vociferous protestations from Craig Burley that Wolfsburg striker Bas Dost should've been included for the February award. And, for the second time this season, Barcelona's No. 10 has been named ESPN FC's Player of the Month.
Messi's second victory comes just as his first did: in a landslide. The Argentine secured nearly 75 percent of the vote, ending any chance that Robben could claim Ribery's inclusion on the shortlist would split voting among Bayern Munich supporters.
Despite the Dutchman's Ballon d'Or form, he managed just 23 percent of the vote. And although that is less than a third of the votes Messi received, his tally far outpaces that of his Bayern teammate Ribery, who earned a meagre 2 percent of the vote.
Messi last won this award back in December, and my how things have changed since then. Prior to the winter break, Real Madrid looked dead certain to walk away with the Liga title, Messi and Luis Enrique were at odds, and the Argentine's future at the club was very much up in the air.
Since, though, the good ship Barcelona has been righted. The Catalans lie just two points adrift of Madrid and are the in-form side, Messi and Luis Enrique have made their peace, and the former's future looks as certain as it's ever going to.
Since that time, Messi has scored 23 goals and 11 assists in 22 appearances in all competitions. His February award shouldn't come as a surprise considering those numbers.
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