Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez make UEFA Best Player in Europe 10-man shortlist

The trio advanced to the final voting round, beating out Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, Barcelona forward Neymar and Chelsea forward Eden Hazard.

Next, jury members will submit their selection from among the finalists, and will meet the victor during the draw for the group stage of the 2015-2016 Champions League, also to be held on August 27 in Monaco.

AS notes Messi is the favourite for the prize and previously won it in 2011, while Ronaldo was recognised in 2014. Thirty-five players make the short list, and Liverpool’s very own new boy Robert Firmino ranked at number twenty-eight.

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.

No surprise here as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez make the top three for the 2014-15 UEFA best player in Europe award.

Barcelona’s triumph in La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey will likely power Messi past Ronaldo, who finished the season empty-handed.

UEFA has revealed a list of 10 footballers, who are in line to be named Best Player in Europe for the year.

Netted 48 times in the Spanish La Liga and the joint-top UEFA Champions League scorer.

Following his €81m transfer to Barca and after missing the first part of the season as punishment for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cup in Brazil, Uruguayan striker Suarez finally made his debut for the Baulgranas in the El Clasico away to Real on 25 October.