Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil Van Dijk have been shortlisted for the Uefa Player of the Year award, the sport's European governing body said on Thursday.
While Ronaldo, a three-time winner, has been ever-present in the final three since the award was created in 2011, centre back Van Dijk makes his first appearance after helping Liverpool win the Champions League title last season.
Van Dijk was voted both the Premier League Player of the Season and the Players' Player of the Year, and was instrumental in the Merseyside club's sixth European Cup triumph.
The nominees for the 2018-19 UEFA Men's Player of the Year ⭐️
— Goal (@goal) August 15, 2019
Lionel Messi ??
Cristiano Ronaldo ⚫️⚪️
Virgil van Dijk ?
Who wins it? ? pic.twitter.com/qYXhMqa8QK
Two-time award winner Messi was the leading scorer in both La Liga (36 goals) and the Champions League (12 goals) last season but his Barcelona side fell in the semi-final stage to Liverpool, who overcame a three-goal deficit in the second leg to advance.
Ronaldo, who has won five Champions League titles, did not fare too well in Europe in his debut season with Juventus, the Italian side losing in the quarter-finals to Ajax Amsterdam.
However, he helped Juve seal their eighth successive league title with 21 goals and was voted the Serie A's 'Most Valuable Player'.
Who would be your 2018/19 UEFA Men's Player of the Year? ?
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 15, 2019
⭐️ Leo Messi?
⭐️ @Cristiano Ronaldo?
⭐️ @VirgilvDijk?
UEFA have confirmed the nominees for their two biggest individual awards...
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 15, 2019
Men's Player of the Year:
?? Cristiano Ronaldo
?? Lionel Messi
?? Virgil van Dijk
Women's Player of the Year:
?? Amandine Henry
?? Ada Hegerberg
??????? Lucy Bronze pic.twitter.com/cLPwpbIl3I
For the women's award, treble-winners Olympique Lyonnais made it a clean sweep with striker Ada Hegerberg, right back Lucy Bronze and midfielder Amandine Henry shortlisted. Hegerberg was the first recipient of the women's Ballon d'Or last year.
The awards will be presented during the Champions League group stage draw ceremony in Monaco on Thursday Aug. 29.