Lionel
Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta have been shortlisted for
the UEFA best player award after gaining the maximum points in a vote
concerning 53 sports journalist who represented each of the UEFA member
associations.
Lionel Messi was the winner of this accolade last year and has also enjoyed an incredible 2011/2012 campaign. He also topped the score charts of the UEFA Champions League for the fourth time in a row. However, Ronaldo posses a tough challenge since he played an extremely vital role in Merengues claiming their first Liga title in the four years. Iniesta also has a strong positiong since he was voted Best Player of the tournament at the UEFA EURO 2012.
Iniesta's Spain colleague Xavi Hernández claimed the fifth position even though he finished at the second place in the 2011 inaugral vote. Andrea Pirlo, Juventus playmaker, came fourth in the election. The positions four to ten are already decided after the journalists provided a list of their preferred five players. The remaining three players will be decided after a vote during the Champions’ League group stage draw, in Monaco on 30th August.
The UEFA Best Player Award created in partnership with European Sports Media (ESM), acknowledges the best player playing for any club of the UEFA member association in the previous season, irrespective of the nationality.
Lionel Messi was the winner of this accolade last year and has also enjoyed an incredible 2011/2012 campaign. He also topped the score charts of the UEFA Champions League for the fourth time in a row. However, Ronaldo posses a tough challenge since he played an extremely vital role in Merengues claiming their first Liga title in the four years. Iniesta also has a strong positiong since he was voted Best Player of the tournament at the UEFA EURO 2012.
Iniesta's Spain colleague Xavi Hernández claimed the fifth position even though he finished at the second place in the 2011 inaugral vote. Andrea Pirlo, Juventus playmaker, came fourth in the election. The positions four to ten are already decided after the journalists provided a list of their preferred five players. The remaining three players will be decided after a vote during the Champions’ League group stage draw, in Monaco on 30th August.
The UEFA Best Player Award created in partnership with European Sports Media (ESM), acknowledges the best player playing for any club of the UEFA member association in the previous season, irrespective of the nationality.
