Leo Messi nominated for UEFA player of the year 2012/13

Leo Messi is one of the candidates for the UEFA player of the year award for 2012/13, as announced on Tuesday. The Argentinian is the only FC Barcelona to be shortlisted for an award won last year by Andrés Iniesta (2012) and by Messi himself a year before that in 2011.

The other nominees are: Arjen Robben, Franck Ribéry, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robin Van Persie and Bastian Schwensteiger.

The prize will be presented on August 29 in Monaco, the day of the draw for the Champions League group stage.