World champions Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer are all hoping to become the first German to win the "UEFA Best Player in Europe Award". UEFA named the trio in the ten-man shortlist, led by last year’s winner Lionel Messi, for the award which was introduced in 2011.
Alongside the three Germans and the Argentine Messi, are newly crowned European champions Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe from Portugal. Also on the list are Welsh superstar Gareth Bale, EURO 2016 top goalscorer Antoine Griezmann from France, Italy’s goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon and Luis Suárez of Uruguay. In total, 37 players picked up votes in the initial poll, made up of journalists from 55 UEFA countries.
Boateng in 14th place
World champion Jérôme Boateng of Bayern Munich was in 14th place, with Will Grigg (Wigan Athletic), who became a Northern Ireland EUROs hero without making a single appearance, in 25th position. From the ten players who have so far received the most votes, a list of just three players will be made on 5th August, from which the continent’s best player of the 2015/16 season will be chosen.
The winner will be revealed during the draw for the group phase of the Champions League on 25th August in Monaco. The only ever Bundesliga player to win the award was Bayern player Franck Ribéry in 2013. The vote was introduced by former UEFA president Michel Platini to go alongside the worldwide award, the Ballon d'Or.
World champions Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer are all hoping to become the first German to win the "UEFA Best Player in Europe Award". UEFA named the trio in the ten-man shortlist, led by last year’s winner Lionel Messi, for the award which was introduced in 2011.
Alongside the three Germans and the Argentine Messi, are newly crowned European champions Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe from Portugal. Also on the list are Welsh superstar Gareth Bale, EURO 2016 top goalscorer Antoine Griezmann from France, Italy’s goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon and Luis Suárez of Uruguay. In total, 37 players picked up votes in the initial poll, made up of journalists from 55 UEFA countries.
Boateng in 14th place
World champion Jérôme Boateng of Bayern Munich was in 14th place, with Will Grigg (Wigan Athletic), who became a Northern Ireland EUROs hero without making a single appearance, in 25th position. From the ten players who have so far received the most votes, a list of just three players will be made on 5th August, from which the continent’s best player of the 2015/16 season will be chosen.
The winner will be revealed during the draw for the group phase of the Champions League on 25th August in Monaco. The only ever Bundesliga player to win the award was Bayern player Franck Ribéry in 2013. The vote was introduced by former UEFA president Michel Platini to go alongside the worldwide award, the Ballon d'Or.
