Football
ESPN staff 9y

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez on UEFA Best Player shortlist

Barcelona stars Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are up against Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo for UEFA's 2014-15 Best Player in Europe award.

European football's governing body announced the 10-man longlist for the individual award in July, and UEFA confirmed on Wednesday that Messi, Suarez and Ronaldo were selected for the three-man shortlist.

The longlist included eight 2014-15 Champions League finalists with journalists from each of UEFA's 54 member associations providing their five top players.

The winner is to be announced by a jury vote at the Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on Aug. 28.

Messi, Neymar and Suarez set a Spanish record for the most goals (122) in a season for any trio of teammates to help Barca on the way to a Treble last season, though the Brazilian was fifth in the UEFA vote.

While Ronaldo failed to lift any silverware with Real Madrid as rivals Barca enjoyed a superb campaign, the Portugal captain still scored a career-best of 61 goals for Los Blancos to earn his place on the shortlist.

Barca beat Juventus in the Champions League final, though the Bianconeri -- who themselves won a domestic double -- were represented on UEFA's longlist by Gianluigi Buffon (third), Paul Pogba (10th), Arturo Vidal (eighth), Carlos Tevez (ninth) and Andrea Pirlo (seventh).

Chelsea star Eden Hazard finished sixth after inspiring Jose Mourinho's side to the Premier League title last term, winning the PFA Player of the year award in the process.

Past winners include Messi (2011), Andres Iniesta (2012), Franck Ribery (2013) and Ronaldo (2014).

Despite finishing third in the 2015 Ballon d'Or, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer only managed to secure 12th spot in the UEFA longlist voting.

Meanwhile, Real's most expensive ever signing Gareth Bale finished joint-19th with Lyon's Andre-Pierre Gignac after a frustrating campaign at the Bernabeu.

UEFA also announced the Best Women's Player of 2014-15 shortlist, with France midfielder Amandine Henry up against German duo Dzsenifer Marozsan and Celia Sasic.

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