UEFA have unveiled their three-man shortlist for the Men’s Player of the Year award for the 2021/22 season.
Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois have been nominated for their role in Real Madrid’s double-winning campaign,
while the latter’s international teammate Kevin De Bruyne is also on the list after another stellar year with Manchester City.
Benzema scored 44 goals in just 46 games – including several important strikes on Los Blancos’ way to a 14th European Cup –
to re-establish himself as one of the best players in the world.
He is widely considered to be the frontrunner to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.
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Courtois silenced plenty of critics – even literally saying so himself in the press –
and put in a man of the match performance in May’s Champions League final win over Liverpool, making a string of unbelievable saves to deny the Reds.
De Bruyne scored 15 goals and grabbed eight assists as Man City retained their Premier League title, while he was also a key component on their run to the Champions League semi-finals.
There is notably no place on the shortlist for Mohamed Salah – who won the Premier League Golden Boot, Playmaker Award, PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year.
The Men’s Player of the Year award is judged on performances in all competitions and not just UEFA tournaments.
The award is voted on by coaches from last season’s Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League, as well as a select group of journalists.
The jury had to select three top players. – five points for first, three for second and one for third – and coaches were not allowed to pick their own players.
A shortlist of 15 players was then whittled down to the final three.
The winner will be unveiled at the draw for the Champions League group stage on 25 August.
The reigning Men’s Player of the Year is Jorginho, who won the 2020/21 Champions League with Chelsea and Euro 2020 with Italy.
