Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Santos have been shortlisted for FIFA’s Best Player and Best Coach awards following their leading roles in Portugal’s historic Euro 2016 victory.
Ronaldo is joined by his perennial Barcelona rival Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, while Santos is nominated alongside Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning coach Zinedine Zidane and Italian miracle worker Claudio Ranieiri, who led Leicester City to their Premier League title last season.
Winners will be revealed in Zurich on January 9.
CR7 is considered the “favourite” for FIFA’s Best Player award – which replaces the Ballon d’Or that FIFA and France Football used to attribute together.
He was the leading scorer (16 goals) of Real Madrid’s exceptional Champions League campaign which saw them lifting the trophy after a dramatic penalty shootout against city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Six weeks later, Ronaldo also captained Portugal to its first major international title at the Euro 2016 in France.
Santos is also considered to have a real chance at being named FIFA’s top coach, though the odds seem to be in favour of Ranieri, whose historic feat of clinching a Premier League title with a club that aimed to avoid relegation at the start of the season will likely be rewarded.
