Franch Ribery is bidding to become Europe's number one after making the three-player shortlist for UEFA Best Player in Europe Award
Franch Ribery is bidding to become Europe's number one after making the three-player shortlist for UEFA Best Player in Europe Award

Ribery up for UEFA Best Player award

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Nyon/Munich - FC Bayern Munich’s wing wizard has made the three-man shortlist for the 2012/13 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

Now or never

In inspirational form as Bayern swept all before them last season, the Frenchman’s skills have not gone unnoticed as he vies for European football’s top individual honour with FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF.

The winner of the award will be determined by a live vote on 29 August, during the group stage draw for the UEFA Champions League. To make the three-player shortlist, Ribery has already earned recognition from a host of journalists representing UEFA’s member national associations.

Ribery recently told France’s L’Equipe that he felt his time had come to be voted the world’s best player. The UEFA award precede’s FIFA’s Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded in January, and Ribery is also likely to be in the frame for honour too.

Bundesliga supplies half of top ten


There were a total of five Bundesliga players in the top ten, with positions four to ten already determined. Ribery's team mate Arjen Robben came fourth, ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski in fifth. Two more of Ribery’s team-mates, Thomas Müller and Bastian Schweinsteiger, were placed in sixth and seventh respectively, ahead of the likes of Gareth Bale, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robin van Persie.

Ribery will be looking to break a Barcelona stranglehold after Messi and Andres Iniesta lifted the first two editions of the prize.