MESSI, RIBERY AND RONALDO SHORTLISTED FOR EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribery shortlisted for the UEFA Europe's Best Player
for the 2012/13 Award.
These three candidates were chosen from the original list of 10. The list has been formed by
football journalists from UEFA member countries.
Messi won the inaugural award two seasons ago while his Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta
claimed the prestigious honour 12 months ago.
The Argentinian helped Barcelona win the Spanish League Championship last season, and he
picked up the European Golden Shoe award in the process thanks to 46 La Liga goals.
Frenchman Ribery was part of a Bayern team to complete the treble of Champions League,
Bundesliga and German Cup.
Portugal's Ronaldo, meanwhile, netted 34 league goals for Real Madrid and was top-scorer in the
Champions League with 12 goals.
The award ceremony will take place in Monaco, on August 29, when the draw for the group
stage of the Champions League is made.
7 good footballers which failed to qualify for the final round are listed below, in the order of
gained rating:
4th: Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund)
5th: Arjen Robben (Bayern Munchen)
6th: Thomas Muller (Bayern Munchen)
7th: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur)
8th: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munchen)
9th: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St Germain)
10th: Robin van Persie (Manchester United)