UEFA: Cristiano Ronaldo, Arjen Robben Top List of Best Players In Europe

European football governing body, UEFA, has announced the top three players for the Best Player in Europe award.

According to the shortlist posted on UEFA.com moments ago, Cristiano Ronaldo, Arjen Robben and Manuel Neuer are the final contenders for the award.

Ronaldo, who scored both goals in Real Madrid’s Super Cup triumph this week, spearheaded the club’s Champions League and Copa del Rey successes in 2013/14.

While Robben and Neuer helped Bayern Munich defend their Bundesliga title, with the latter also shining in Germany’s march to World Cup honours in Brazil last month.

According to a statement on UEFA website, the overall winner of the award will be decided by a live vote in Monaco on 28 August, 2014, during the UEFA Champions League group stage draw.

It was gathered that in Monaco, journalists will vote live, via an electronic system, for their best player from the shortlist.

Positions four to ten are already fixed after every reporter provided a list of their top three players, with the first receiving three points, the second two points and the third one.

Below are positions 4 to 10:

4 Thomas Müller (GER, FC Bayern München) – number of points, 39
5 Philipp Lahm (GER, FC Bayern München) – 24
5 Lionel Messi (ARG, FC Barcelona) – 24
7 James Rodríguez (COL, AS Monaco FC/Real Madrid CF) – 16
8 Luis Suárez (URU, Liverpool FC/FC Barcelona) – 13
9 Ángel Di María (ARG, Real Madrid CF) – 12
10 Diego Costa (ESP, Club Atlético de Madrid/Chelsea FC) – 8

This season marks the fourth edition of the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, which was born out of an initiative by UEFA President Michel Platini in partnership with the European Sports Media (ESM) group.

Previous winners are:
Franck Ribéry (2012/13)
Andrés Iniesta (2011/12)
Lionel Messi (2010/11)