The Union of European Football Associations (UFEA) Men’s Player of the Year Award (previously known as the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award) is an association football award given to the footballer playing for a men’s football club in Europe that is considered the best in the previous season of both club and national team competition.
The award, created in 2011 by UEFA in partnership with European Sports Media (ESM) group, was initially aimed at reviving the European Footballer of the Year Award (Ballon d’Or), which was merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in 2010 to become the FIFA Ballon d’Or.
It also replaced the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award.
How UFEA nominates Player of the Year
The final three players were determined by a voting jury comprising 24 coaches of the teams that participated in this summer’s Euros, along with 80 coaches of the clubs that participated in the group stages of last season’s Champions League (32) and UEFA Europa League (48).
In addition, 55 journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group were also permitted to cast their vote on the subject, one from each of UEFA’s member associations.
Voters selected their top three players, with the first receiving five points, the second three and the third one.
As part of the rules coaches were not allowed to vote for players from their own team.
A full run-down of the players was released by the football body, with the rest of the top 10 revealed.
Winners of UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award since 2011
Since its establishment, the award has been won by Barcelona legend Lionel Messi (2011, 2015), Andrés Iniesta (2012), Franck Ribéry (2013). See the full list below:
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