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The three finalist of the voting for European Footballer of the Year 2014 are Manuel Neuer, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Arjen Robben.

Besides the Champions League, Neuer won everything which was possible in this season. Actual he has the awards of world best goalkeeper and Germany's Footballer of the Year 2014. Additionally, he has the actual titles of Nation World Cup Champion, Club World Cup Champion, Bundesliga Champion, DFB-Pokal Champion,...

Ronaldo might look back at one of his most successful seasons ever. With Real Madrid he won the La Decima - the Champions League. Furthermore he added the Copa del Rey and the title of the ESP and CL top scorer to his trophy collection. The actual FIFA Ballon d'Or is also adding to his case.

While Arjen Robben did not win a proper individual award, he might be the player who was the closest to win it all. He fighted himself into the World Cup and the CL half finals only to be stopped by Argentina and Real. He might have scored the most important goals for his clubs. He was voted as third best player at the World Cup and was found in every kind of All Star Teams.

The Top 10 was completed by the following players:

4. Thomas Müller – Bayern Munich
5. Philipp Lahm – Bayern Munich
5. Lionel Messi – Barcelona
7. James Rodríguez – Monaco
8. Luis Suárez – Liverpool
9. Ángel di María – Real Madrid
10. Diego Costa 8 – Atlético Madrid

Not sure how James Rodriguez got in top 20, let alone top 10.

Anyways, this has got to be Ronaldo. As great as Neuer was for Germany in the WC, Ronaldo means more to his teams than Neuer IMO. Bayern probably would have won all the trophies the won last season with an above-average keeper instead of Neuer.

I can see where you are coming from, but you kinda neglect the World Cup. Neuer kept his team in the competition while Ronaldo, well, went out in the group stage.

Maex wrote:I can see where you are coming from, but you kinda neglect the World Cup. Neuer kept his team in the competition while Ronaldo, well, went out in the group stage.

Yeah, you are probably right. Seeing how James finished 7th, the WC clearly mattered A LOT. The award being called UEFA Best Player in Europe is kinda confusing.

5DOM wrote:Not sure how James Rodriguez got in top 20, let alone top 10.

Anyways, this has got to be Ronaldo. As great as Neuer was for Germany in the WC, Ronaldo means more to his teams than Neuer IMO. Bayern probably would have won all the trophies the won last season with an above-average keeper instead of Neuer.

Pretty much this. Neuer was great in the World Cup and as a German I'd like to see him winning this, but Ronaldo has been incredible all year long and wasn't even at 100% during the World Cup.

He deserves it.

Edit: And yeah, James at 7 is a good one

voted Neuer

Well deserved by C. Ronaldo.

As much as I want it to be Robben, it really shouldn't be anyone other than Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, easy choice.

CR7 for beasting through UEFA's premier competition and wrecking all it's records.

7 more goals to Raul Gonzalez Blanco's all time European goals record. Knowing Cristiano it could very well be done by the end of the group stage this year.

How is Reus not in the top 10....

I thought it was pretty clearly agreed he was the best player in the Bundesliga.

I think this award doesn't account for the World Cup, maybe I am wrong but this is for 13-14 season IN EUROPE, that means all leagues and european tournaments. Given that I think the winner out of this 3 would be Cristiano Ronaldo but I think Diego Costa and Modric should be ranked higher.

ardee wrote:How is Reus not in the top 10....

I thought it was pretty clearly agreed he was the best player in the Bundesliga.

I do not think that it was pretty clearly agreed that Reus is the best player in the Bundesliga. He might be the best player outside of Bayern, but everything else is pretty much debatable (e.g. Robben, Ribery, Lahm, Lewandowski, and Neuer who was voted as Germany's footballer of 2014). Additionally, Reus missed the whole World Cup due to injury.

sorokii wrote:I think this award doesn't account for the World Cup, maybe I am wrong but this is for 13-14 season IN EUROPE

That's not completely right:
Criteria: According to UEFA, the award "recognise[s] the best player, irrespective of his nationality, playing for a football club within the territory of a UEFA member association during the previous season." Players are judged by their performances in all competitions, domestic and international, and at club and national team levels throughout the season.

=> The player has to play for a European club, all games are included.