UEFA have announced their 10-man shortlist for the best player in Europe awards, containing some of the world's elite footballers all competing to be crowned as the winner.
55 of UEFA's member association
journalists provided a list of their five best-ranked players based in
Europe, producing a star studded final 10.
The final will see current winner Lionel Messi looking to hold
onto his title with fierce competition from rival Cristiano Ronaldo, fresh from
winning the European Championships and Wales hero Gareth Bale.
Neymar didn't make the cut, nor did any Premier League stars, so
here's a look at the final 10-man shortlist...
1. Gareth
Bale - Real Madrid & Wales
Gareth Bale finds himself on the shortlist following a
spectacular Euro campaign for Wales, after he lead the team to the their first
semi-finals ever, after scoring three goals in the group stages.
In addition to that, the world's most expensive player
secured 19 La Liga goals including four goals against Real Vallecano to go
with his Champions League winners medal this season.
2. Gianluigi Buffon - Juventus & Italy
Legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon captained his club to the
Serie A title and country to a surprise European quarter-final.
The veteran Italian made a new Serie A record by keeping a
clean-sheet for 974 minutes over twelve matches, close to the world record in
any top flight, proving he is still going strong at 38.
3. Antione Griezmann - Atletico Madrid & France
Griezmann lit the European Championships alight to gain his
place in this European elite shortlist, after he managed to bring back the
Golden Boot with six goals from the Euros.
The Atletico Madrid star played short of 70 games for club and
country last season, picking up an incredible 39 goals and only lost both
the Champions League and Euro titles narrowly in the finals.
4. Toni Kroos - Real Madrid & Germany
The star of the German midfield forced his way into the final
ten after his impressive Euro performances with his exquisite passing ability.
Real Madrid's midfielder was also part of their Champions League
winning squad to cap off an immense season after playing nearly 60 games.
5. Lionel Messi - Barcelona & Argentina
The current holder will look to take his third title after also
winning it in 2011 following an impressive season in which he won La Liga.
Lionel Messi continues to perform year after year and has done
so again with a total of 47 goals for club and country and only narrowly missed
out on the Copa America title (again).
6. Thomas Muller - Bayern Munich & Germany
Despite providing little effect for Germany in France, the
Bayern star makes the list after another impressive Bundesliga title-winning
season in which he scored 20 goals despite playing behind Lewandowski.
Adding to his total of 36 goals last term to see him win the
double with Bayern in the Bundesliga and German Cup.
7. Manuel Neuer - Bayern Munich & Germany
The world's best goalkeeper and third place on the Ballon d'Or
list is Manuel Neuer, who kept 20 clean-sheets for Bayern Munich last
season as they comfortably won another Bundesliga title.
Germany's shot-stopper also made another four clean-sheets at
the Euros, conceding 0.5 goals per game, incredible.
8. Pepe - Real Madrid & Portgual
Pepe had been a rock at the back of the Real Madrid
Champions League winning squad all season and continued that in his
performances for Portugal at the European Championships, with his defence
playing a vital part in them winning the tournament.
His displays saw him make the team of tournament and become one
of the standout players despite some of his moments to forget.
9. Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid & Portugal
CR7 is a clear favourite to win the title after another
glistening season in Madrid, scoring an astounding 51 goals in 48 games to
carry Real Madrid to their 11th Champions League win.
That alone is enough to compete for the title, but being
arguably the best player to ever play in the Bernabeu, he topped it off with a
Euro medal to complete his extensive collection.
10. Luis Suarez - Barcelona & Uruguay
40 La Liga goals was enough to see Barcelona striker Luis
Suarez seal his place on the shortlist in the season he won La Liga with the
Catalan giants.
Suarez bagged 60 goals in all competitions in five less
games, 55, although he didn't have the best Copa America campaign as he was
benched in an early Uruguayan exit.
11. Honourable Mentions
Only ten players could make the final shortlist, but 27 players
also received votes, most surprising of which is Will Grigg.
Yes, Will Grigg. The Wigan striker. He somehow ended
up finishing joint 25th with the £100m rated Paul Pogba, as well as
Giorgio Chiellini, Hugo Lloris and Diego Godin despite not even playing in the
European Champions for Northern Ireland.
Whom
were all ahead of the 2012 winner Andres Iniesta in joint 19th with
the likes of Neymar and Eden Hazard.
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