Buffon, Messi, Ronaldo make Player of the Year shortlist
Veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been named as one of three nominees for the 2016/17 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, European football’s governing body announced on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old Buffon was a key member of the Juventus side that reached last season’s Champions League final, but he missed out on a first winner’s medal as the Italians were beaten 4-1 by Ronaldo’s Real Madrid in Cardiff.
The shortlist was decided by the 80 coaches of the clubs that played in the Champions League and Europa League group stages, as well as 55 journalists.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has won the award twice, as has Portuguese forward Ronaldo.
Since its inception in 2011, unlike other similar individual awards, the UEFA accolade has not been totally dominated by Ronaldo and Messi.
Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta won the honour in 2012, followed by French winger Franck Ribery a year later.
Real Madrid, who have lifted the European Cup in three of the past four seasons, had four players in the top 10, with Luka Modric fourth, Toni Kroos fifth and Sergio Ramos seventh.
Argentinian forward Paulo Dybala (sixth) joined his Juve team-mate Buffon in being named, while Monaco’s rising teenage star Kylian Mbappe, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and former Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic rounded out the top 10.
Luis Suarez, who scored 37 goals for Barcelona in all competitions last season, missed out, as did his former team-mate Neymar, who has since joined Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record 222-million-euro ($260.9m) move.
More Stories
UPDATE: CHILE FOOTBALL STAR VIDAL ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
The investigation was triggered after a complaint was made against the players but so far no one has been arrested,...
OLMO SCORES TWICE AS BARCELONA BEAT ESPANYOL 3-1 IN CATALAN DERBY
By: Ajape Sefiu A. Barcelona continues their remarkable season as they are now nine points clear at the top of...
SERIE A: IN-FORM LOOKMAN SCORES TWICE AS ATALANTA BEAT NAPOLI 3-0
Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman’s first-half brace helped Atalanta beat Napoli 3-0 on Sunday afternoon. Despite Napoli coach Antonio Conte’s...
NIGERIAN WORKERS IN LIBYA FACE ARREST, DEPORTATION FOLLOWING CAF VERDICT
Subsequent to a recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board against the Libya Football Federation (LFF),...
EPL: BOURNEMOUTH BREAKS MAN CITY’S UNBEATEN RUN IN SHOCK UPSET
Manchester City lost 2-1 at Bournemouth on Saturday, ending their 32-match unbeaten run in the Premier League. Bournemouth scored an...
JUST IN: MANCHESTER UNITED CONFIRMS APPOINTMENT OF AMORIN AS HEAD COACH
On November 11, Ruben Amorim, who has been announced as Manchester United's next head coach, will assume leadership of the...