PARIS, Aug 12 — Barcelona’s Uruguay forward Luis Suarez was today named on a three-man shortlist for UEFA’s Best Player in Europe award for 2014/15.

The 28-year-old joins perennial top player nominees Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Suarez’s Barca teammate Messi won the inaugural UEFA Best Player in Europe award in 2011 while Real Madrid’s Ronaldo is the current holder. 

Messi is the big favourite as Barcelona won the treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey last season, while he helped Argentina reach the Copa America final.

The award will be handed out in Monaco on August 27 during the draw for the group stages of the Champions League.

Behind the top three, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was fourth, Barca’s Brazil forward Neymar fifth and Eden Hazard of Chelsea sixth.— AFP