Neymar Should Be Above Cristiano Ronaldo on UEFA Shortlist, Says Luis Enrique

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique believes Neymar should be the third name on the three-man shortlist for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award alongside team-mates Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, not Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

UEFA revealed Messi, Suarez and Ronaldo as the final three contenders on Wednesday along with the ranks of the other seven players in the top 10.

Barca's Neymar was ranked fifth, just below Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, but Enrique believes the Brazil captain should have been in the top three, per Santi Gimenez of Spanish outlet AS: "I think that the podium should be Messi, Suarez and Neymar."

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

As the trio's Barca manager, Enrique is unlikely to have an unbiased view on the matter. However, there will be plenty who agree with him given that Neymar, Messi and Suarez were largely responsible for the Catalan giants' treble win last season.

Between them, they netted 81 goals in La Liga—Neymar scored 22 goals, per WhoScored.com—while the 23-year-old Brazilian and Suarez were both on target in Barca's 3-1 victory over Juve in the Champions League final.

Ronaldo's Real, meanwhile, were trophyless in 2015, although the Portuguese superstar did net 48 goals as Los Blancos finished two points back from Barcelona in second place in La Liga.

The list of previous winners of the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award—created in 2011—includes Messi, Andres Iniesta, Franck Ribery and, most recently, Ronaldo. It is voted for by journalists from all 54 of UEFA's member countries, and the 2015 winner will be revealed at the Champions League group-stage draw on August 27.

Of the three finalists, Messi is the favourite considering his huge contribution to Barca's league, Copa del Rey and Champions League triumphs in 2014-15, per football writer Cristian Nyari.

He has the beating of Ronaldo this time around because while the former Manchester United man top-scored in La Liga, he could not inspire his side to victory in three competitions as Messi did.