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Initial shortlist announced for 2015/16 UEFA Best Player in Europe Awards

Media Releases

UEFA has announced the ten-player shortlist for the 2015/16 UEFA Best Players in Europe Awards.

034 - Award ceremony to be held in Monaco on 25 August

UEFA has announced the ten-player shortlist for the 2015/16 UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe Award, organised in conjunction with the European Sports Media (ESM) group. The shortlist has been selected by the coaches of the twelve top-ranked teams in the official UEFA women’s national team coefficient ranking, together with the coaches of the eight teams which took part in last season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals. Former 1. FFC Frankfurt and Germany forward Célia Šašić won last season’s award.

The shortlist of the ten players in alphabetical order is: Camille Abily (France, Olympique Lyonnais); Ada Hegerberg (Norway, Olympique Lyonnais); Amandine Henry (France, Olympique Lyonnais/Portland Thorns FC); Saki Kumagai (Japan, Olympique Lyonnais); Eugenie Le Sommer (France, Olympique Lyonnais); Amel Majri (France, Olympique Lyonnais); Dszenifer Marozsán (Germany, 1. FFC Frankfurt/Olympique Lyonnais); Louisa Necib (France, Olympique Lyonnais); Alexandra Popp (Germany, VfL Wolfsburg); Wendie Renard (France, Olympique Lyonnais)

The full list of 39 players included in the initial vote is available here: uefa.to/2a9M5pn

The jury for the second round of voting is selected by ESM, and will be composed of 20 journalists committed to supporting women’s football, with the final three nominees scheduled to be revealed on Friday 5 August 2016. The same jury will then cast their votes in the final round to determine the outright winner, who will be announced during the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on 25 August.

UEFA has also announced the ten-player shortlist for the second round of voting for the 2015/16 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. This season marks the sixth edition of the men’s award, won last season by Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Argentina.

As in previous years, journalists from each of UEFA’s 55 member associations provided a list of their five best-ranked players ordered from one to five, with the first player receiving five points, the second four and so on. The ten players with the most points advanced to the second round of voting, which will determine the three finalists to be named on Friday 5 August 2016. Similarly to the women’s award, the jury will then cast their votes in the final round for the outright winner, who will be announced during the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group stage draw in Monaco.

The shortlist of ten players for the 2015/16 season’s award in alphabetical order is: Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid CF); Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus); Antoine Griezmann (France, Club Atlético de Madrid); Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid CF); Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona); Thomas Müller (Germany, FC Bayern München); Manuel Neuer (Germany, FC Bayern München); Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid CF); Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid CF); Luis Suarez (Uruguay, FC Barcelona)

The full list of 37 players included in the initial vote is available here: uefa.to/29OX3Mw