Berlin (dpa) – World champions Germany have three players on a 10-man
shortlist for UEFA’s 2015-2016 Best Player in Europe award.
Keeper Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos and
Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller are on the list published Monday,
while newly-crowned European champions Portugal are represented by
Real Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe.
European Championship top scorer Antoine Griezmann is the only player
on the shortlist from losing Euro finalists France.
Barcelona strikers Lionel Messi, who won the award last year and is
the current Ballon d’Or holder, and Luis Suarez are listed along with
Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale and Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Players have been chosen by journalists from each of European body
UEFA’s 55 member associations by listing their five best-ranked
players.
A second vote will determine the three finalists to be named on
August 5. The winner will be announced during the draw for the
Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on August 25.
Just out of the top 10 were the Leicester City duo Riyad Mahrez of
Algeria and England striker Jamie Vardy.
Other contenders who failed to make the top 10 were Dimitri Payet
(West Ham/France) Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich/Germany), Arturo
Vidal (Bayern Munich/Chile), Luka Modric (Real Madrid/Croatia),
N’Golo Kante (Leicester; now Chelsea)/France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic
(Paris Saint-Germain; now Manchester United)/Sweden), Eden Hazard
(Chelsea/Belgium), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), Neymar
(Barcelona/Brazil), Renato Sanches (Benfica; now Bayern
Munich/Portugal), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland), Gonzalo
Higuain (Napoli/Argentina)