UEFA: Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta Up For Best Player Award

World player of the year ,Lionel Messi was named yesterday
among the three finalists in the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award short-list
along with Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid’s Cristiano
Ronaldo.

Argentina’s Messi beat Ronaldo and Xavi Hernandez last year
to win the inaugural edition of the prize, which is awarded after a vote of
European sports journalists.

The second edition will be presented in Monaco on August 30
on the sidelines of the draw for the Champions League group stages.

Messi was La Liga’s top scorer with 50 goals last season,
four more than Ronaldo, and capped his season by winning a third Ballon d’Or
title.

But Barcelona finished second behind Real Madrid who set
records for most La Liga wins in a season with 32, most goals scored (121) and
best goal difference (plus-89) en route to a first league title in four years.