Real Madrid duo Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois, alongside Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, are the three nominees for the 2021-22 UEFA Men s Player of the Year Award.
The three are joined by bosses Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, plus Liverpool s Jurgen Klopp, on the three-man shortlist for the UEFA Men s Coach of the Year Award.
Ahead of this week s Ballon d Or nominations, France forward Benzema has further enshrined his frontrunner status, after firing Madrid to a continental double last term in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
But there is no room for any player from Liverpool, the side who Ancelotti s men vanquished in last season s final in Paris.
Five Reds stars Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho, plus the departed Sadio Mane made the 15-man longlist, but none made the final cut for the eventual nominations.
Other players included Robert Lewandowski and Luka Modric, who came fourth and fifth respectively, while Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe came eighth, one spot ahead of Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.
Nominated for UEFA Men s Player of the Year 2021/22!
— Real Madrid C.F.