Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo battle for UEFA's Best Player in Europe Award
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo headlines the 2014-2015 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. European football’s governing body released the 10-man longlist for the individual award in July, while the announcement of winners will be via jury vote at the Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on Aug. 28.
UEFA confirmed on Wednesday that Barca duo Messi and Suarez, and Portuguese football star Ronaldo are the three nominees for best player award. The list is comprised of eight 2014-2015 Champions League finalists, which includes Barcelona forward Neymar, and Juventus’ Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba. Also included in the longlist are Italians Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, and Carlos Tevez of Boca Juniors.
The candidates for the individual award came from UEFA’s 54 members associations, who each listed their five best-ranked players, according to UEFA’s official website. The first player in each of the members’ list receives five points, the second four, and so on. The ten players with the most points advances to the second stage of voting, which has determined the three finalists.
According to NBC Sports, Messi is the favourite to win the individual award for best player in Europe after posting a record of 58 goals in all competitions for Barca during the team’s 2014-2015 campaign. Barca won the La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League treble.
On the other hand, Ronaldo, who won the award last year, could bag two consecutive Best Player in Europe Award. Real’s football star showcased an impressive season, despite not lifting any silverware for Barca last season. Ronaldo was the top scorer in the Spanish League, scoring 48 goals for the Los Blancos. Ronaldo and Messi hold the all-time record in the UEFA Champions League with 77 goals each.
Meanwhile, Suarez has been a key factor in Barcelona’s success after serving a four-month ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup. The Uruguayan also helped the Catalan club to pile up wins in the second half of the season.
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