UEFA have announced the three finalists for the 2016 Best Player in Europe award, snubbing the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Tired of reading? Click through the gallery to see the three finalists for the UEFA Best Player in Europe award.
The three final contenders were announced during the UEFA Champions League draw on Friday after an initial list of 10 nominees was drawn up.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann and Gareth Bale made the final cut, and will battle it out for the prestigious trophy.
The Portuguese is the favourite to lift the award after scoring 51 goals in 48 games for Real, while assisting another 15 for his teammates, last season. His 16 goals helped Los Blancos lift the Champions League trophy, and he also captained Portugal to the 2016 European Championship title.
Griezmann reached two major finals – the Champions League with Atletico Madrid and the European Championship with France – but failed to lift a trophy. However, he netted 32 goals and assisted a further seven strikes in 54 games for Atletico, while also scoring six times for France at Euro 2016.
Bale completes the three finalists after playing his best Los Blancos season so far. The Welshman scored 19 goals and assisted 15 strikes in 31 games for Real, helping the side lift their 11th European Cup. In addition, he netted three times for Wales during the Euros, helping his country reach the semi-final for the first time in their history.
Here are the other seven nominees, with Suarez finishing in fourth place ahead of Messi:
4 Luis Suárez (Barcelona & Uruguay)
5 Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina)
6 Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus & Italy)
7 Pepe (Real Madrid & Portugal)
8 Manuel Neuer (Bayern München & Germany)
9 Toni Kroos (Real Madrid & Germany)
10 Thomas Müller (Bayern München & Germany)
A panel of 55 journalists - one from each of UEFA's member associations - voted for the nominees, giving their first choice five points, second choice three points and third one.

The winner of the 2016 Best Player in Europe award will be announced on 25 August, during the Champions League group stage draw.


Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/uefa-champions-league/3-finalists-for-uefa-best-player-revealed/234799


Who, of the three finalists, do you think will win the 2016 UEFA Best Player in Europe award?

Hmmm. That's a straw in the wind....

Nice from Uefa. Award now based on your performance for both country and club.

Good decision to snub those two. Award won't go to players that need barcelona to shine but go into hiding when they wear their national team jersey.

Badosqi:
Nice from Uefa. Award now based on your performance for both country and club.

Good decision to snub those two. Award won't go to players that need barcelona to shine but go into hiding when they wear their national team jersey.

ur statement can only be related to suarez not messi... where did bale's initial gragra carry wales reach?? messi lost to chile via penalty shootouts... #luck

Badosqi:
Nice from Uefa. Award now based on your performance for both country and club.

Good decision to snub those two. Award won't go to players that need barcelona to shine but go into hiding when they wear their national team jersey.

reaching worldcup final 2014, narrowly lost @ extra time plus winning MVP award among all 32world teams and more is not with barca jersey. Stop hating. Even cr7 cannot do dat tho.

xtophy:
ur statement can only be related to suarez not messi... where did bale's initial gragra carry wales reach?? messi lost to chile via penalty shootouts... #luck

same as cr7 and Madrid use luck to meet cheap teams until d final and won on pk. Then cr7 and portugal use 5draws and 1win in 90mins with best loser to win Euro. #that is d height of luck#