Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Antoine Griezmann are on a three-man shortlist for the UEFA Best Player in Europe award, with Lionel Messi overlooked.

Ronaldo played a leading role as Portugal stunned their rivals to win Euro 2016. Although he was stretchered off in the final, he later emerged in the dugout and barked orders from the sidelines as his nation beat hosts France in extra time.

Alongside Bale, Ronaldo also helped Real Madrid secure an 11th Champions League crown. Both of those triumphs occurred with Griezmann as an opponent.

Griezmann may have finished 2015-16 without a trophy, but he scooped the top scorer gong in France with six goals – three more than any other player. He fired 22 goals in La Liga, and seven more in Atletico Madrid’s run to the Champions League final.

Bale was influential as Wales reached a historic semi-final at Euro 2016, firing three goals as they topped a group containing England, Slovakia and Russia, and arguably finished the club season as Real’s standout player.

However, the omission of Barcelona stars Messi and Luis Suarez is likely to cause most consternation, with both South American forwards superb as the Catalan giants clinched a domestic double. Gianluigi Buffon, Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Pepe were the other players to make an initial 10-man shortlist.

The winner will be announced at the Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on August 25.