Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo head shortlist for 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.