Real Madrid dominate the positional awards for the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season, providing six of the 12 shortlisted players.
Shortlisted players (in alphabetical order):
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Goalkeeper
of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season contenders: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munchen), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid).
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Defender
of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season contenders: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus, now AC Milan), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
The contenders: goalkeepers
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Midfielder
of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season contenders: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Luka Modri? (Real Madrid).
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Forward
of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season contenders: Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).
The accolades were introduced to recognise the top goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward in Europe's premier club competition each season. They will be presented alongside the annual UEFA Men's Player of the Year and UEFA Women's Player of the Year awards during
the UEFA Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on 24 August
.
Last term Madrid became the first team in the UEFA Champions League era to retain the European Cup when they defeated Juventus 4-1 in the final. Two of the Whites' goalscorers in Cardiff that day, Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo, are among the shortlisted players.
Watch the defensive nominees in action
How the players were shortlisted
The jury was composed of the coaches of the 32 clubs in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group stage, together with 55 journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, representing each of UEFA's member associations. The coaches were not allowed to vote for players from their own teams.
Jury members selected their top three players per position, with the first receiving five points, the second three and the third one. The three players who received the most points in each category made up the final shortlist.
These awards complement the UEFA Men's and Women's Player of the Year prizes, the finalists for which will be announced on 15 August.
Player rankings (4 to 10)
All of the midfield nominees play for Real Madrid
Goalkeepers
4
Keylor Navas (Real Madrid) ? 67 points
5
Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City) ? 16 points
6
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona) ? 7 points
7
Danijel Suba?i? (Monaco) ? 6 points
8
Anthony Lopes (Lyon) ? 5 points
9
Roman Burki (Dortmund), Iker Casillas (Porto), Ederson (Benfica, now Man. City), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Pepe Reina (Napoli) ? 1 point
Defenders
4
Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus) ? 71 points
5
Dani Alves (Juventus, now Paris) ? 50 points
6
Diego Godin (Atletico) ? 16 points
7
Philipp Lahm (Bayern) ? 14 points
8
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) ? 13 points
9
Gerard Pique (Barcelona) ? 12 points
10
Benjamin Mendy (Monaco, now Man. City) ? 9 points
The best of Dybala, Messi and Ronaldo from 2016/17
Midfielders
4
Miralem Pjani? (Juventus) ? 33 points
5
Thiago Alcantara (Bayern) ? 25 points
6
Bernardo Silva (Monaco, now Man. City) ? 21 points
7
Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) ? 15 points
8
Fabinho (Monaco) ? 12 points
9
Isco (Real Madrid), Arturo Vidal (Bayern) ? 10 points
Forwards
4
Kylian Mbappe (Monaco) ? 58 points
5
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern) ? 24 points
6
Neymar (Barcelona, now Paris) ? 21 points
7
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico) ? 14 points
8
Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus) ? 8 points
9
Edinson Cavani (Paris) ? 6 points
10
Mario Mand?uki? (Juventus) ? 5 points