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December 3, 2016

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Griezmann battles with Ronaldo, Messi

FRENCHMAN Antoine Griezmann joined regulars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the shortlist for FIFA’s Player of the Year award yesterday.

Claudio Ranieri and Fernando Santos, the men behind two of the year’s biggest surprises, were nominated for the best coach award alongside Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane.

Germany’s Melanie Behringer, last year’s winner Carli Lloyd of the United States and Brazil’s five-time winner Marta were nominated for the women’s player of the year award.

Ronaldo helped Portugal win Euro 2016, although his performances were often criticized and he was injured early in the final against France, and he won the UEFA Champions League with Real.

Messi led Argentina to the final of the Copa Centenario, where it lost to Chile, and won La Liga with Barcelona. Angry with the leadership of the Argentine FA, he briefly announced his international retirement but later back-tracked.

Atletico Madrid forward Griezmann earned a spot with his performances for France at Euro 2016.

Ronaldo and Messi have shared the award since 2008, with Messi winning five times to Ronaldo’s three, and it was the sixth time in a row both have featured in the final shortlist of three.

In the coaching race, Italian Ranieri led Leicester City to the English Premier League title against all the odds while Santos won Euro 2016 with Portugal, its first major trophy.

The first FIFA award was held in 1991 when it was won by German Lothar Matthaeus while the women’s player of the year of the award has been held every year since 2001.

From 2010 to last year inclusive, the awards were organized jointly with France Football magazine and known as the FIFA Ballon d’Or.




 

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