Follow usUEFA has announced on Thursday the 3-man shortlist of players, who will compete for the best player in Europe and Lionel Messi has made the cut alongside Erlin Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
BREAKING : Lionel Messi is the first player outside Europe to be nominated for UEFA Men’s player of the year award pic.twitter.com/4m3BaDvneJ
— Berneese (@the_berneese_) August 17, 2023
The 36-year-old has clinched the award twice in his career (2011 and 2015) when Barcelona were crowned European Champions. Messi faces a difficult task of overcoming both Haaland and De Bruyne, who lifted the Champions League with Manchester City.
The winner will be announced during the Champions League draw in Monaco on August 31.
Pep Guardiola is unsurprisingly considered as red-hot favorite for the manager of the year.
Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri were the other City players, who found themselves among the top of the voting in 4th and 5th respectively. Kylian Mbappe stood in 6th.
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