TheCable

La Liga players Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann are the final three players shortlisted for the 2016 BEST FIFA Men’s Player of the Year Award.

Cristiano Ronaldo had an outstanding 2016, as he was crowned as European champion twice, winning the UEFA Champions League and finally breaking his international jinx by helping Portugal claim the EURO 2016 crown. He was also top scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 16 goals.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi had another fruitful year, guiding his side to its eighth La Liga league title, fourth Copa del Rey and seventh Spanish Super Cup. He scored 20 goals with 16 assists in La Liga, but couldn’t add international glory to his overflowing trophy cabinet, as he lost the final of the Copa America Centenario to Chile. He also notched another personal record, overtaking Gabriel Batistuta as top scorer for Argentina.

Finally, Grizou, as Antoine Griezmann is now called, was named the best player both in the Spanish league, where he helped Atletico Madrid finish third, and at the UEFA EURO 2016, which hosts France narrowly lost to Portugal in the final.

The first ever FIFA BEST award will take place in Zurich on January 9, 2017.