16.08.2010 17:01

Four Barça players nominated for UEFA award

Vanessa Forns

Valdés, Piqué, Xavi and Messi are among the 12 players nominated for the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year Award 2010. The winner will be announced during the Champions League draw in Monaco on 26th August.

The Four Barça players feature on a shortlist of 12 players who have been nominated for the prestigious award, three in each of the four positions: best goalkeeper, best defender, best midfielder and best forward. The winner will be announced during the draw for the Champions League next Thursday.

Nominations made by club managers

The nominations are decided by the coaches of the 16 teams that reached the knockout stage of the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League. Each coach has the opportunity of voting for the individual positional prizes as well as to name their choice for UEFA Club Footballer of the Year 2010.

One of the following 12 players – five from reigning European Champions Inter Milan, four from Barça, one form Bayern Munich, one from Manchester United and one from Olympique – nominated for a positional award will be presented with the main prize during the awards ceremony at the Grimaldi Forum, which begins at 17.45CET next Thursday.

• UEFA Best Goalkeeper of the Year
Júlio César (FC Internazionale Milano)
Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyonnais)
Víctor Valdés (FC Barcelona)

• UEFA Best Defender of the Year
Lúcio (FC Internazionale Milano)
Maicon (FC Internazionale Milano)
Gerard Piqué (FC Barcelona)

• UEFA Best Midfielder of the Year
Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona)
Arjen Robben (FC Bayern München)
Wesley Sneijder (FC Internazionale Milano)

• UEFA Best Forward of the Year
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Diego Milito (FC Internazionale Milano)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United FC)