Ten nominees for one prize. Journalists from all 55 UEFA member associations will decide on the next best European player for the season 2015/2016. All in all, 37 names entered the competition but 10 of them will battle for the award.
Two names from the Spanish champions (Barcelona) are in fact the only non-European players who are fighting for the grand prize: Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Luis Suarez (Uruguay). The prize winner from last year is still in contention 'defending his title', who, together with: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid, Wales), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid, France), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich, Germany), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany), Pepe (Real Madrid, Portugal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal) and mentioned Luis Suarez are making the top 10. Remaining 27 players just missed out on the top 10 list (those are classified from 11 place onwards in the following order): Riyad Mahrez (Leicester, Algeria), Jamie Vardy (Leicester, England), Dimitri Payet (West Ham, England), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich, Germany), Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich, Chile), Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia), N'Golo Kante (Leicester, France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG, Sweden), Eden Hazard (Chelsea, Belgium), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain), Neymar Jr. (Barcelona, Spain), Renato Sanches (Benfica, Portugal), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, Poland), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli, Argentina), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus, Italy), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid, Uruguay), Will Grigg (Wigan, Northern Ireland), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham, France), Paul Pogba (Juventus, France), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham, Belgium), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Gabon), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium), Kevin Gameiro (Sevilla, France), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Sevilla, Poland), Blaise Matuidi (PSG, France), Georges-Kevin N'Koudou (Marseille, France), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid, Slovenia).
European football organization will announce the winner on Thursday, 25 August in Monaco, on the same day when the Champions league group stages will be known for next season. The show will start from 18.30 CET.