Officially, the team’s MVP award is named for Aldo Rovira, the son of the former Director Josep Lluís Rovira. Aldo Rovira died in a motorcycle accident on March 18, 2009, at the age of 37. This is the eighth year the award has been given.
Messi previously won the award in the 2009/10, 2010/11, 20012/13, and 2014/15 seasons. The other winners include Éric Abidal (2011/12), Javier Mascherano (2013/14), and Luis Suárez (2015/16).
Barça President Josep Maria Bartomeu and CEO Òscar Grau were among those on hand at Camp Nou on Thursday.