Almost half of the 40 candidates for UEFA’s team of the year come from La Liga, with Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Sevilla represented.
AS notes that there are 16 players based in Spain among the shortlist, though only four Spaniards are included and one of them, Alvaro Morata, plays for Juventus.
Champions League winners Barcelona are the best represented club, with eight – Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, Javier Mascherano, Dani Alves, Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi.
Real Madrid have Sergio Ramos, James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo on the list, while Diego Godin and Antoine Griezmann fly the flag for city rivals Atletico.
Grzegorz Krychowiak gets the nod for his Sevilla performances and Yevhen Konoplyanka is also in contention, though last season he was with Dnipro, beaten by Los Rojiblancos in the Europa League final.
There are four goalkeepers, 12 defenders and 12 forwards on the shortlist and the XI will be decided by a public vote.
Candidates for UEFA’s team of the year:
Goalkeepers: Hart (Manchester City), Buffon (Juventus), Neuer (Bayern Munich), Boyko (Dnipro)
Defenders: Alaba (Bayern), Luiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg), Thiago Silva (PSG), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Boateng (Bayern), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus, Dani Alves (Barcelona), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona)
Midfielders: De Bruyne (Wolfsburg/Man City), Hazard (Chelsea), James Rodriguez (Real Madrid), Yevhen Konoplyanka (Dnipro/Sevilla), Calhanoglu (Bayer Leverkusen), Vidal (Juventus/Bayern), Pogba (Juventus), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Sevilla), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Marchisio (Juventus), Verratti (PSG)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Lewandowski (Bayern), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Neymar (Barcelona), Muller (Bayern), Ibrahimovic (PSG), Aguero (Man City), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Alexis (Arsenal), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
