MESSI, INIESTA AND RONALDO UP FOR THE UEFA BEST PLAYER AWARD!

 

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates with his team-mate Andres Iniesta after Iniesta scored their team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final, second leg match between FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC at Camp Nou on April 24, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta along with Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo have been shortlisted for the 2011-2012 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

The three players gained the most points in a vote among 53 sports journalists representing each of the UEFA member associations, European football’s organizing body said Tuesday.
The award will be decided in a vote in Monaco during the Champions League group stage draw on August 30.
Messi, who won the award when it was introduced last year, is also the world player of the year for the past three years.
Positions four to 10 have already been established in the vote, with Italy’s Andrea Pirlo (Juventus) fourth, followed by Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, now Shanghai Shenhua), Petr Cech (Chelsea) tied with Falcao (Atletico Madrid) and Mesut Oezil (Real Madrid).