Champions League

Lewandowski and De Bruyne lead UEFA award nominations...but no Messi or Ronaldo

For the first time in a decade, neither Cristiano nor Lionel Messi is nominated for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award

5:33pm on Wednesday 23rd September 2020
By Martin Macdonald

The shortlist for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award has been released, with Robert Lewandowski the favourite to claim the honour.

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 Kevin 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.

Arguably the bigger story than who is nominated is actually who isn't this year, however, as for the first time in 10 years there is no Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo on the shortlist.

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 players, with the Argentine winning it twice and the Portuguese on three occasions.

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.

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