UEFA has announced the 10 player shortlist of the second round of voting for the 2012/13 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.
This year will be the third edition of the award, which was created out of an initiative by UEFA President Michel Platini, in partnership with the European Sports Media (ESM) group. Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta won the first two editions of the award.
The players are nominated by a jury of journalists representing each of UEFA's member national associations.
The first round of voting produced a long list of 26 players, which was chopped down to 10, later 3 and finally, the winner.
FIRST ROUND OF VOTING
Gareth Bale
Edinson Cavani
Cristiano Ronaldo
Dante
Edin Džeko
Falcao
Mario Götze
İlkay Gündoğan
Zlatan Ibrahimović
Andrés Iniesta
Branislav Ivanović
Javi Martínez
Philipp Lahm
Robert Lewandowski
Mario Mandžukić
Lionel Messi
Thomas Müller
Manuel Neuer
Óscar Cardozo
Andrea Pirlo
Franck Ribéry
Arjen Robben
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Robin van Persie
Arturo Vidal
Xavi Hernández
I'm so ashamed ... I don't know İlkay Gündoğan. I should know him, especially since he is on this list.
10 PLAYER SHORTLIST
Gareth Bale
Cristiano Ronaldo
Zlatan Ibrahimović
Robert Lewandowski
Lionel Messi
Thomas Müller
Franck Ribéry
Arjen Robben
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Robin van Persie
If it were up to me, 5 footballers would receive this award - Gareth Bale, Robert Lewandowski, Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie - an award for each footballer.
I watched each and every one of them play during the season and they were incredible. Bale got Spurs so close to the UEFA Champions League with his goal-scoring talent, that it hurt not to see them through. Lewandowski led Dortmund to the UEFA Champions League Final. Together, Ribéry and Robben led Bayern to a historic treble (Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League & German Cup). In his first season at Old Trafford, van Persie scored a memorable hat-trick against Villa to lead Manchester United to their historic 20th Premier League title and finished the season as the top goal-scorer in the Premier League.
The interesting part of these lists is that they are dominated by Bundesliga footballers. So, if you don't watch the Bundesliga, you are missing out on some mind-blowing football.
The award will be presented in Monaco on Thursday 29 August 2013 during the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League group stage draw.
The jury, including the same journalists, will cast their live votes using an electronic system to determine the winner from the final 3 candidates.
May the best footballer win.
