Football fans around the world were delighted to hear that three of the biggest stars in the game have been named to UEFA’s shortlist for the best player of last season. Lionel Messi, Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland have all been recognized for their outstanding performances during the 2019-2020 season.
Lionel Messi, the Barcelona superstar, is no stranger to these awards. He has won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award a record five times and is the only player to have won it four times in a row. Last season, Messi scored 25 goals and provided 21 assists in 33 La Liga appearances. He also scored four goals in the Champions League, helping Barcelona reach the quarter-finals.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne was also included on the shortlist. The Belgian international had an incredible season, scoring 16 goals and providing 20 assists in all competitions. He was instrumental in Manchester City’s Premier League title win, as well as their run to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Erling Haaland rounds out the shortlist. The 20-year-old Norwegian striker had a remarkable debut season in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund. He scored an impressive 33 goals in 31 appearances, helping Dortmund to a second-place finish in the league. He also scored 10 goals in eight Champions League appearances, including a hat-trick against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.
It is no surprise that these three players have been named to UEFA’s shortlist for best player of last season. Messi, De Bruyne, and Haaland all had incredible campaigns and were instrumental in their teams’ successes. It will be interesting to see who is crowned the winner of this prestigious award.
