Ronaldo nominated for 2017 FIFA player award

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Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo leads the nominees unveiled on Thursday for the Best FIFA Men's Player 2017 award.

Among the 24 nominees are Ronaldo's Real Madrid teammates such as Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, and Sergio Ramos.

The 32-year-old Portuguese captain is the favorite to retain the title he won last year after success in both the Champions League and Spanish football league La Liga.

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo looks from the bench during the first leg of the Spanish Super-cup football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 13, 2017. / AFP Photo

The list also includes Barcelona rivals Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, as well as Paris Saint-Germain's record signing Neymar.

Champions League finalists with Juventus, Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and teammate Paulo Dybala are also in the running, alongside former Juventus player Leonardo Bonucci, who has since signed for AC Milan.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane heads the list of 12 nominees for the men's coach of the year award.

Other candidates include Antonio Conte, who led Chelsea to the English title, Manchester United's Europa League-winning coach Jose Mourinho and Massimiliano Allegri of Juventus.

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar takes part in a training session at the Camp des Loges in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, on August 18, 2017. / AFP Photo

Zidane has enjoyed a glorious year in charge of Madrid as they successfully defended the European Cup — the first team to do so in the Champions League era.

Real also won La Liga, the first time they had been champions of Spain and Europe in the same year since 1958.

He has won seven trophies since succeeding Rafael Benitez as coach of Madrid in January last year, including the UEFA Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup this month.

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi gestures during the second leg of the Spanish Supercup football match Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on August 16, 2017. / AFP Photo

Last year's winner Carli Lloyd of the United States is one of ten nominees for the women's award. The Houston Dash midfielder had a loan spell at Manchester City last season.

Barcelona forward Lieke Martens and Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema, both winners of the women's Euro 2017 with the Netherlands, are also on the list.

The winners will be decided by a jury of club and international coaches, media representatives and fans.

The prize — one of a new set of awards organized by FIFA following their split with Ballon d'Or organizers France Football magazine — will be handed over in London on October 23.

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Source(s): AFP