La Liga players lead UEFA Best Player shortlist

MNA Sports Desk: La Liga players lead this year’s Best Player in Europe shortlist, declared by the continent’s governing body UEFA on Monday, with seven of the top 10 candidates for the significant award presently plying their trade in Spain.

European champions Real Madrid are represented by four players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, while last year’s winner Lionel Messi and Barcelona team mate Luis Suarez, along with Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, are on the list.

Italy’s veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will be joined by Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich on the list, which features no players from the English Premier League.

The list will be cut to three at the start of August, with UEFA’s jury to decide on the eventual winner during the Champions’ League group stage draw in Monaco on August 25.

Northern Ireland’s Will Grigg, who shot to internet stardom after a Wigan Athletic fan paid homage to the striker with a parody version of the 90s dance hit ‘Freed From Desire’ by Gala, was a surprise inclusion.

The 25-year-old, who finished 25th, received the same number of votes as Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba and more votes than last season’s Bundesliga top scorer Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

The UEFA Best Player in Europe Award is an association football award given to the footballer playing for a football club in Europe that is considered the best in the previous season. The award, created in 2011 by UEFA, is aimed at reviving the European Footballer of the Year Award (Ballon d’Or), which was merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in 2010 to become the FIFA Ballon d’Or.

However, It also replaced the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award. Since its inception, the award has been won by Lionel Messi a record two times (2011, 2015), Andres Iniesta (2012), Franck Ribéry (2013)and Cristiano Ronaldo (2014). Female players are awarded the UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe Award, introduced in 2013.

The shortlist

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid & Wales)

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus& Italy)

Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid & France)

Toni Kroos (Real Madrid & Germany)

Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina)

Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich & Germany)

Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich & Germany)

Pepe (Real Madrid & Portugal)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid & Portugal)

Luis Suarez (Barcelona & Uruguay)