On Friday afternoon, the European football organisation announced the final three players in the running for the award: Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Antoine Griezmann.
The UEFA criteria takes into account all competitions but clearly are only interested in giving the award to attacking players.
Barcelona legend Lionel Messi won the award last year but failed to make the final three this summer.
Barcelona fans on social media were outraged after Lionel Messi and La Liga top scorer Luis Suarez did not make the cut.
Not a particularly popular figure amongst neutrals, ex Liverpool striker Luis Suarez did outscore all three of the attackers who were nominated.
Following his Champions League and Euro 2016 victories, Cristiano Ronaldo is destined to win the UEFA Best Player award and is the huge favourite to win the Ballon d’Or too.
Check out some tweets from Barcelona fans below.
I'm honestly not even surprised Messi isn't there because people always expect him to dominate every competition. But Suarez? No explanation
— Josip (@jperkovic93)
And once again, Suarez is being disrespected.
— EMIYA (@natsucule)
If Suarez didn't bite anyone he'd have 1 UEFA award by now and at least 2nd in the BdO(of either 2014 or 2015)
— Ahmad (@ChieflySarcastc)
I can maybe understand omitting Messi from the Best Play in Europe shortlist, but Suárez's omission is a joke. What rubbish.
— Nader Hussein ✊ (@NaderHussein10)
-101greatgoals
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