UEFA AWARD: Lewandowski, De Bruyne in, Messi, Ronaldo out
Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been left out of this year’s UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award which is the first time in the last 10 years.
The shortlist announced includes Robert Lewandowski who contributed to Bayern Munich’s UEFA Champions Cup glory and Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.
Lewandowski is favourite to claim the gong, as he would have been for the Ballon d’Or had that award not been cancelled due to the current pandemic.
The Pole was outstanding for Bayern last season, firing them to the treble of the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and the Champions League.
Although Manchester City went out at the quarter-final stage, up until that point De Bruyne was sublime for his side, adding to his already stellar performances in the Premier Leaugue.
The other player to make it into the top three is Bayern keeper, Manuel Neuer.
Ronaldo went out at the Round of 16 stage in the Champions League with Juventus against Lyon, while Messi and Barcelona were embarrassed 8-2 by the eventual winners, Bayern.
Messi and Ronaldo have won the award more than any other player, with the Argentine winning it twice and the Portuguese on three occasions.
read also;Lewandowski blames Coronavirus for Ballon d’Or Miss
Last year’s winner was Virgil van Dijk after helping to lead Liverpool to the Champions League in 2019.
Jurgen Klopp, Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann are in contention for the Men’s Coach of the Year.
For the women’s award, the nominees are Lucy Bronze, Pernille Harder and Wendie Renard.