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Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo head shortlist for Best Player in Europe award

Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo head the nominations for the Best Player in Europe award.

Perennial rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been included on the shortlist for the Best Player in Europe award.

Messi is the defending champion having scooped the award in 2015, but Ronaldo scored 16 goals in the Champions League last season and also netted the winning penalty in the shootout against Atletico Madrid to hand Real their 11th crown.

Antoine Griezmann was on the losing side in that match, but he is also included on the list having been named the best player and top goalscorer at Euro 2016 this summer, helping hosts France all the way to the final, where they were beaten by Ronaldo's Portugal.

Pepe also represents Portugal in the final 10, while Gareth Bale and Toni Kroos make it a quartet of Real Madrid players on the shortlist.

Bayern Munich pair Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer are also included, as are Barcelona's Luis Suarez and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

The award takes into account performances in all competitions at both domestic and international level throughout the 2015-16 campaign, and the shortlist will be cut down to three on August 5, with the winner announced during the Champions League group stage draw on August 25.

Wigan Athletic and Northern Ireland striker Will Grigg came in at 25th on the initial list, level with Diego Godin, Hugo Lloris and Paul Pogba, and above the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kevin De Bruyne.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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