The list is unveiled and is unsurprisingly Bundesliga heavy.
UEFA has unveiled the final ten players in contention for the 2012/13 ‘Best Player in Europe Award.’
These ten will be cut down to a top three on August 6 and the winner will be announced on August 29 during the UEFA Champions League group stage draw.
As in previous years, the accolade is voted for by a jury composed of journalists from each of UEFA’s member associations.
The list features two Premier League players, two La Liga forwards, a Ligue 1 representative and five Bundesliga stars.
Italian football fans will be disappointed as none of the Serie A contingent have made it into the top ten.
Understandably after their treble-winning season, Bayern are represented strongly with four players in the final ten.
Interestingly, not one defender has made the top ten, whilst internationally Germany and the Netherlands have two representatives and there is just one player from a nation outside of Europe.
No prizes for guessing who that is!
Here is the complete list:
Gareth Bale (WAL) – Tottenham Hotspur FC
Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) – Real Madrid CF
Zlatan Ibrahimović (SWE) – Paris Saint-Germain
FC Robert Lewandowski (POL) – Borussia Dortmund
Lionel Messi (ARG) – FC Barcelona
Thomas Müller (GER) – FC Bayern München
Franck Ribéry (FRA) – FC Bayern München
Arjen Robben (NED) – FC Bayern München
Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER) – FC Bayern München
Robin van Persie (NED) – Manchester United FC
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