From Cristiano Ronaldo to Alexia Putellas: A take a look at earlier winners of UEFA Players of the Year award

Meanwhile, defending winner Alexia Putellas has did not discover a place within the ultimate shortlist of the ladies’s class. Other two Spanish players- Aitana Bonmati and Olga Carmona- have made the lower after lifting the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy final month. Australian ahead Sam Kerr will compete with the Spanish duo to develop into the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year this time.

This coveted accolade was named the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award when the European soccer governing physique launched it again in 2011. Messi was topped the winner of the inaugural version. Later in 2017, UEFA rebranded it because the Men’s Player of the Year Award, with Cristiano Ronaldo being adjudged the winner.

Ahead of this 12 months’s UEFA award ceremony, let’s check out the winners of the earlier editions (women and men):

Cristiano Ronaldo (2017):

Thanks to a Champions League triumph with Real Madrid, Ronaldo was named the UEFA Player of the Year in 2017, edging previous Messi within the race. The Portuguese objective machine netted 12 targets within the European competitors together with a brace within the ultimate towards Juventus.

Luka Modric (2018):

After main Croatia to the ultimate of the FIFA World Cup, Luka Modric pipped Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to win the title in 2018. The Real Madrid midfielder additionally clinched the World Cup Golden Ball for his distinctive present within the showpiece occasion.

Virgil van Dijk (2019):

Virgil van Dijk grew to become the one defender to win this coveted accolade when he noticed off competitors from Ronaldo and Messi to be named the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in 2019. After becoming a member of Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018, the Dutch worldwide recorded extra clear sheets than any of his counterparts in Europe’s top-five leagues.

Robert Lewandowski (2020):

The Polish striker performed a key position in Bayern Munich’s dominant run within the 2019-20 Champions League. He scored in each recreation within the Bavarian giants’ run-up to the ultimate, the place the German membership defeated Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Lewandowski additionally scored 31 targets in 34 Bundesliga appearances that season.

Jorginho (2021):

Jorginho’s distinctive efficiency within the midfield helped Chelsea win the long-awaited Champions League title in 2021. His most enthralling efficiency got here within the first leg of the quarter-finals towards Porto which led Thomas Tuchel to explain the Italian as one among “the very best midfielders in the world.” Jorginho played a pivotal role at EURO 2021, where the Italian football team were crowned champions.

Karim Benzema (2022):

Courtesy of his stunning performance in the Champions League for Real Madrid and in the UEFA Nations League with France, Karim Benzema bagged the award last year. He struck the net 15 times in the Champions League, while also scoring 27 goals in the La Liga.

Lieke Martens (2017):

After guiding the Netherlands to UEFA Euro title on home soil, Lieke Martens was adjudged the Women’s Player of the Year in 2017. The Dutch winger also showed off her consistency in the Barcelona colours that season.

Pernille Harder (2018):

An unforgettable performance in Denmark’s run till the UEFA Women’s EURO final helped Pernille Harder win the first of her two Women’s Player of the Year awards.

Lucy Bronze (2019):

Lucy Bronze was the first female defender to be crowned UEFA Women’s Player of the Year. The Champions League winner overcame her Lyon teammates Ada Hegerberg and Amandine Henry in the top-three list to win the award.

Pernille Harder (2020):

After bagging the title in 2018, Harder repeated the feat two years later. The Danish forward played a pivotal role in Wolfsburg’s exceptional run in the Champions League, where they lost to Lyon at the final stage. Despite the defeat, Harder established herself as one of the best attacking footballers in European football, scoring 38 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions.

Alexia Putellas (2021):

The Barcelona forward became the first Spanish footballer to win the title in 2021. Putellas led the Catalan giants to win the Champions League trophy that season.

Alexia Putellas (2022):

Puttellas won the title for the second consecutive time last year having led Barcelona to a domestic treble. They also reached the final of the Champions League but fell short in the summit clash against Lyon.