Barcelona, Juventus dominate UEFA Best Player in Europe shortlist
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Champions League finalists Barcelona and Juventus provide eight of the 10 players shortlisted for UEFA's Best Player in Europe Award for last season.
Champions League-winning Barcelona players on the shortlist are forwards Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. Beaten finalist Juventus has Gianluigi Buffon, Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal. UEFA says Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Chelsea's Eden Hazard are also voted in from an initial 35-candidate list.
UEFA asked journalists from its 54 member countries to each name their top five players from the 2014-15 season.
No English players were among the 35 candidates chosen, with Hazard the only representative from the Premier League.
A three-man shortlist will be named Aug. 12. The UEFA panel of journalists will pick the winner at the Champions League groups draw in Monaco on Aug. 27.
