The names were announced in a statement by European football's governing body, which wants to recognize with this award "the best player regardless of nationality, who has fought at a club in the territory of an association forming part of the UEFA during the 2010-2011 season "
Barça Xavi and Messi Ronaldo and Real Madrid are the three candidates for the award for best player in Europe in the 2010-2011 season, announced UEFA which will be announced the winner on 25 August.
The names were announced in a statement by European football's governing body, which wants to recognize with this award "the best player regardless of nationality, who has fought at a club in the territory of an association forming part of the UEFA during the 2010-2011 season. "
The winner will coincide with the draw for the Champions League group on 25 August in Monaco, where the jury consisting of 53 sports journalists in Europe, will decide the winner through an electronic voting system.
On the first ballot, journalists representing each of the federations of UEFA chose three players, giving the first five points, three on the second and one third.
UEFA did not reveal the score for the first three, which will play the award in a vote by a single round, but other players who were between the fourth and tenth positions.
Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) was fourth with 33 points, followed by Falcao (Oporto) with 17 points, Rooney (Manchester United) with 15 points, Vidic (Manchester United) 5 points; Ibrahimovic (AC Milan) and Pique (Barcelona) with 4 points, and Neuer (Schalke 04) with 3.
The players were qualified given his career last season in all competitions, national and international, both in clubs and in their respective national teams.
This award is an initiative of the president of UEFA, Michel Platini, with the objective, the agency said, to "revive the spirit of former European Footballer award for the year."
Xavi Hernández and Lionel Messi were this year among three finalists for the Golden Ball that FIFA distinguishes the best player in the world with teammate Andres Iniesta, a trophy that was Argentina's second consecutive year.