UEFA Player Of The Year: Ronaldo, Messi Shortlisted, Neymar Snubbed
Photo Credit: UEFA.com
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) have shortlisted Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Gianluigi Buffon, for the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award for the 2016/2017 season.
The European Football body revealed on their official website Tuesday, the top 10 shortlisted players, and in a surprise twist Brazilian star Neymar didn’t make the list.
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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 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, along with 55 journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, representing each of UEFA’s member associations.
UEFA’s Men’s Player of the Year Award recognises the best players, irrespective of nationality, playing for a club within the territory of a UEFA member association during the past season. Players are judged on their performances in all competitions – domestic, continental and international.
The final result was based on the total number of votes cast by the coaches and the journalists. The coaches were not allowed to vote for players from their own team.
The players who make up the rest of the top ten are:
4: Luka Modrić (Croatia, Real Madrid)
5: Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid)
6: Paulo Dybala (Argentina, Juventus)
7: Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid)
8: Kylian Mbappé (France, Monaco)
9: Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Bayern München)
10: Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden, Manchester United)
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Messi (Argentina, Barcelona) and Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid) have both won the award twice previously – Messi in 2010/11 and 2014/15, and Ronaldo in 2013/14 and last season. Other players who have won this accolade are Andrés Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona) in 2011/12 and Franck Ribéry (France, Bayern München) in 2012/13.
?⚽️ Player of the Year Award shortlist ⚽️?
Bravo @gianluigibuffon, Leo Messi & @Cristiano Ronaldo!Winner announced on 24 August.#UEFAPOTY pic.twitter.com/nKYGyfhvyc
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 15, 2017
