UEFA Releases Ten Player Shortlist for 2013-2014 Best Player in Europe Award

The initial 2013/14 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award shortlist has been revealed, with ten players set for a second round of voting to decide the three finalist nominees.

Ángel Di María (Argentina, Real Madrid CF): AFP/Getty Images

The players, listed in alphabetical order below:

• Diego Costa (Spain, Club Atlético de Madrid – now at Chelsea FC)
• Ángel Di María (Argentina, Real Madrid CF)
• James Rodríguez (Colombia, AS Monaco FC)
• Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern München)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona)
• Thomas Müller (Germany, FC Bayern München)
• Manuel Neuer (Germany, FC Bayern München)
• Arjen Robben (Netherlands, FC Bayern München)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid CF)
• Luis Suárez (Uruguay, Liverpool FC – now at FC Barcelona)

Those ten now go into a second round of voting to produce the three finalist nominees, who will be named on Thursday 14 August. The award will then be presented in Monaco on 28 August during the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League group stage draw.

The initial list comprised 35 players, which were voted on by a panel of journalists from UEFA's member associations.

This season marks the fourth edition of the award, which was born out of an initiative by UEFA President Michel Platini, in partnership with the European Sports Media (ESM) group. Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta and Franck Ribéry won the first, second and third editions respectively.