Berlin – Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta along with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo have been shortlisted for for the 2011-2012 Uefa Best Player in Europe Award.
The three players gained the most points in a vote among 53 sports journalists representing each of the Uefa member associations, European football's organising body said Tuesday.
The award will be decided in a vote in Monaco during the Champions League group stage draw on August 30.
Messi, who won the award when it was introduced last year, is also the World Player of the Year for the past three years.
Positions four to 10 have already been established in the vote, with Italy's Andrea Pirlo (Juventus) fourth, followed by Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, now Shanghai Shenhua), Petr Cech (Chelsea) tied with Falcao (Atletico Madrid) and Mesut Oezil (Real Madrid). – Sapa-dpa