Bundesliga quintet on UEFA Best Player shortlist

Five players who took part in May’s UEFA Champions League final have been shortlisted for the Best Player in Europe award.

Thomas Mueller, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munich join Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski on the 10-man list after a year in which the Bavarian side won the treble.

Joining the Bundesliga players is four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi of Barcelona as well as Real Madrid’s Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

The latter two players’ respective sides were eliminated by Bayern and Dortmund in the semi-finals of the Champions League in two games which marked the re-emergence of German sides in Europe’s top competition.

Premier League Player and Young Player of the Year Gareth Bale from Tottenham also features on the list alongside Robin van Persie of Manchester United.

The Dutchman enjoyed a prolific first season at Old Trafford, scoring 30 goals from 48 appearances in all competitions as he helped guide his side to the Premier League title.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was a major force in helping Paris Saint-Germain win Ligue 1, is also in with a chance.

The imposing Swede grabbed 37 goals during his first season at the Parc des Princes – a campaign which also saw PSG reach the quarter finals of the Champions League before bowing out on away goals to Barcelona.