UEFA have announced the final Best Player in Europe shortlist, with Manuel Neuer and Arjen Robben joining Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the favorite for the award.
The Best Player in Europe will be announced in two weeks time during the Champions League draw in Monaco on 28 August.
Ronaldo is the clear favourite to win the award after his record-breaking season which helped his side to their tenth European Cup – the famous La Decima – and the Copa del Rey.
The 29-year-old FIFA Ballon d'Or winner also broke the record for most goals in a single Champions League campaign (17) and was the best La Liga goal-scorer. In addition, he was the joint best scorer in Europe with Luis Suarez after both scored 31 league goals.
Germany No1 Neuer was ever-present during his country's FIFA World Cup triumph in Brazil, keeping four clean sheets in seven games. Neuer, who also helped Bayern to the 2013/14 domestic double, was named German footballer of the year for a second time on 10 August. He is the first goalkeeper to make the final three.
Robben, meanwhile, was on target three times in the Netherlands' run to the last four of the World Cup. At club level, only attackers Thomas Müller and Mario Mandžukic found the net more times for Bayern in all competitions than the 21-goal winger.
Neuer and Robben will have it very difficult to beat Ronaldo for the award, particularly after another impressive display by the Portuguese in the UEFA Super Cup.
In Monaco the journalists will vote live, via an electronic system, for their best player from the shortlist.
Positions four to ten are already fixed after every reporter provided a list of their top three players, with the first receiving three points, the second two points and the third one.
4 Thomas Müller (GER, FC Bayern München) – number of points, 39
5 Philipp Lahm (GER, FC Bayern München) – 24
5 Lionel Messi (ARG, FC Barcelona) – 24
7 James Rodríguez (COL, AS Monaco FC/Real Madrid CF) – 16
8 Luis Suárez (URU, Liverpool FC/FC Barcelona) – 13
9 Ángel Di María (ARG, Real Madrid CF) – 12
10 Diego Costa (ESP, Club Atlético de Madrid/Chelsea FC) – 8
Do you think Manuel Neuer or Arjen Robben can beat Cristiano Ronaldo to Europe's Player of the Year award? Have your say in the comment section below.
