The finalists of the UEFA poll for the best footballer of the year are midfielder Kevin de Bruyne from Manchester City and forward Robert Lewandowski with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from Bayern Munich. For the first time in the history of the award, which has been given since 2011, neither the stars Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo are among the elite trio.
The nomination is dominated by the winners of the Champions League from Bayern. Polish striker Lewandowski improved his personal maximum in the 55-goal season, German goalkeeper Neuer also helped the Bavarian club significantly to win three trophies, keeping a clear account six times in the Champions League. The Belgian national team member De Bruyne in England won the players’ vote for the best footballer of the season and advanced to Manchester Quarterfinals with Manchester City. In the Premier League club, his team finished second to sovereign Liverpool.
The two-time winner of the Messi poll took fourth place this time, receiving 53 votes, as did striker Paris St. Germain Neymar. Ronaldo, who is the record holder of the poll with three championships, closed the top ten with 25 votes. Last year’s winner Virgil van Dijk from Liverpool did not get into it at all.
The winner will be announced on October 1 during the draw of the Champions League groups in Nyon. The award will also be accepted by the best football player and, for the first time, also coaches in men’s and women’s football.
Three Germans are nominated in the coaching category – Hansi Flick from Bayern together with Jürgen Klipp from Liverpool and Julian Nagelsmann from Leipzig.
The winning team of the Lyon Champions League added Wendie Renard, Lucy Bronze and coach Jean-Luc Vasseur to the final nominations. Among the players, the trio is complemented by Pernille Harderová from the team of defeated finalists Wolfsburg, and their coach Stephan Lerch is also nominated. The third women’s coach is Lluís Cortes from Barcelona.
In the poll, coaches of 80 clubs playing the Champions League and the European League and media representatives from 55 UEFA member countries voted.
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