Messi, Ronaldo, and Suarez named finalists for UEFA Best Player in Europe Award

Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo were named the three finalists for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award on Wednesday.

The three stars were the top choices among journalists from each of UEFA's 54 member associations, selected from a 10-player shortlist released midway through July. It's an interesting final three, considering half the shortlist consisted of Juventus players.

Messi, 28, had a tremendous 2014-15 season, winning the treble with Barcelona and shattering a few more records along the way. He scored 58 goals last year in all competitions, made the FIFA World Cup final, beat Telmo Zarra's La Liga record of 251 goals, and rounded it all off with two goals against Sevilla on Tuesday to win the UEFA Super Cup, too.

Suarez, 28, also enjoyed a bountiful goal tally in 2014-15 as the third prong of Barcelona's ruthless three-man attacking line alongside Messi and Neymar. He contributed 25 goals to a combined 122 between the trio. That doesn't do him justice, though, since he missed the first three months of the campaign due to suspension.

Ronaldo, 30, led La Liga in goals last season, notching 48 in league play en route to a total of 61 across all competitions. The Portuguese superstar was the joint top scorer in the Champions League and also etched his name in Real Madrid history, passing Alfredo Di Stefano on the club's all-time goal-scorers list.

Select journalists will cast their votes for the winner Aug. 27 during the UEFA Champions League group-stage draw in Monaco. Previous winners include Messi in 2011, Andres Iniesta in 2012, Franck Ribery in 2013, and Ronaldo last year.