Messi, Suarez, Ronaldo in Running for UEFA Best Player Award

Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona controls the ball during the Joan Gamper trophy match at Camp Nou on August 5, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

NYON, Switzerland—Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez of Champions League winner Barcelona will compete with Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo for UEFA’s Best Player in Europe award for last season.

UEFA says the three stars topped a Europe-wide poll of journalists who chose from a 10-player shortlist.

The same 54-member panel picks a winner on Aug. 27 at the Champions League group draw in Monaco.

Messi and Ronaldo had a season-long duel for the Champions League scoring record and resume this season tied on 77 goals.

Suárez is nominated despite starting his season in late October after serving a FIFA ban for biting at the World Cup.

The Uruguay forward scored the decisive goal in Barcelona’s 3–1 win over Juventus in the Champions League final.

Five Juventus players were shortlisted.

Lionel Messi (R) of Barcelona holds off a challenge from Éver Banega of Sevilla during the UEFA Super Cup between Barcelona and Sevilla FC at Dinamo Arena, Aug. 11, 2015, in Tbilisi, Georgia. (Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)

 

Cristiano Ronaldo (L) of Real Madrid contests the ball against Luca Antonelli of AC Milan during the International Champions Cup match between Real Madrid and AC Milan at Shanghai Stadium on July 30, 2015, in Shanghai, China. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)