Gerard Pique scoops Best Catalan Sportsperson award as Barcelona defender faces investigation over Twitter posts 

Gerard Pique has been named Best Catalan Sportsperson at the 19th Festival of Catalan Sport. 

The 28-year-old Barcelona defender played a key role in his side's five-trophy haul in 2015 which included the Champions League title. 

On receiving his award, Pique said: 'In a career there are good times and bad times. In good, you should not think that you are better than everyone and in the bad, you shouldn't think that you are the worst. As the years go by you realise you have to follow your own path.'

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique and his wife Shakira at the 19th Festival of Catalan Sport on Monday

Pique was named Best Catalan Sportsperson after playing a key role in Barcelona's five-trophy haul of 2015

Pique alongside Catalonia president Carles Puigdemont and with his wife Shakira at the awards bash

Meanwhile, the Barcelona first-team were named Best Catalan Team at the ceremony at the city's Maritime Museum. 

Pique, began his career at the Nou Camp, in the club's famed La Masia academy, but before he signed his first professional contract, joined Manchester United in 2004.  

However, he struggled to hold down a regular starting place in England and via a loan spell at Real Zaragoza, was sold back to Barca four years later, where has has since developed into one of the world's most accomplished centre backs. 

While Pique has earned 74 international caps for Spain and featured in their 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship winning squads, the player has been outspoken about his views on the autonomy of Catalonia.

In recent months, he has made a number of comments relating to the politics of Spain and celebrated Barca's Champions League final victory over Juventus in June by planting the Catalan flag (Senyera) in the middle of the pitch. 

Since returning to Barcelona, Pique has gone on to establish himself as one of the world's best defenders

Pique is known for his outspoken views regarding the separatism of Catalonia from Spain  

Pique is facing an investigation over politically charged comments made on his Twitter account 

The Spanish anti-violence commission has compiled a report on several posts from Pique's Twitter account, which was sent to a disciplinary committee to decide if they need to be investigated further. 

Pressed on the matter, Pique seemed unconcerned and responded: 'They can study the tweets, they're there for them to study what they have to study.

'What difference does it make whether I think it's fair or not when they're just going to do whatever they feel like anyway?'