WHO SHOULD WIN THIS YEAR BEST PLAYER AWARD
Gianluigi Buffon, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been named on the shortlist for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award.
The prize, formerly called the Best Player in Europe Award, was won by Real Madrid star Ronaldo last year and has twice been given to Barcelona forward Messi.
Andres Iniesta and Franck Ribery are the only other players to have lifted the trophy.
The prize recognises the best players, regardless of nationality, playing for clubs in UEFA territories and is judged on their performances in domestic, continental and international competition.
"The shortlist of three players was selected by a jury comprising the 80 coaches of the clubs which participated in the group stage of the 2016-17 Champions League and Europa League, along with 55 journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, representing each of UEFA's member associations," according to UEFA's guidelines. Coaches were not allowed to vote for players from their own teams.
Ronaldo fired Madrid to a league and
Champions League double last season, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and Club
World Cup, while Messi won the Copa del Rey with Barca and finished as top
scorer in La Liga.
Buffon won a Serie A and Coppa
Italia double for the third time in three years and reached the final of the
Champions League with Juventus, where they lost 4-1 to Madrid.
Luka Modric came fourth in the
voting, ahead of Madrid team-mate Toni Kroos and Juve star Paulo Dybala.
Madrid captain Sergio Ramos was
seventh, Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe eighth and Bayern Munich striker Robert
Lewandowski ninth. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who left Manchester United at the end of
his contract, completes the top 10.
The award will be presented
along with the four positional prizes for the Champions League for 2016-17 at
the group-stage draw for this season's competition on August 24.
🏆⚽️ Player of the Year Award shortlist ⚽️🏆— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 15, 2017
Bravo @gianluigibuffon, Leo Messi & @Cristiano Ronaldo!
Winner announced on 24 August.#UEFAPOTY pic.twitter.com/nKYGyfhvyc
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