Cristiano Ronaldo has won UEFA's award as the best player in Europe last season after helping Portugal to win the European Championship and having another stellar campaign for Real Madrid.
Ronaldo, a favorite for a fourth world player of the year award, beat club teammate Gareth Bale of Wales and Atletico Madrid's France star Antoine Griezmann.
The vote, by journalists from UEFA's 55 member countries, was announced at the Champions league draw Thursday.
Ronaldo also received the award in 2014. lionel Messi (twice), Andres Iniesta and Franck Ribery previously won the award, which was first presented in 2011.
UEFA created the prize after the original European Footballer of the Year honor, known as the Ballon d'Or, merged with FIFA's world player award. lyon forward Ada Hegerberg won the women's award.
Meanwhile, The goal of Barcelona striker lionel Messi in the first round of the 2015-16 UEFA Champions league against Roma was chosen by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) as the best of last season.
Messi scored the goal as a result of collective play with Neymar and luis Suarez. That encounter, played at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium last November, ended in a 6-1 victory for the hosts, reports Efe.
The Argentina striker's goal received 34 per cent of the vote and exceeded Brazilian Ricardinho's goal in Futsal, which gained 13 per cent votes, while the goal of Swiss Xherdan Shaqiri in the second round of the Euro 2016 against Poland came in third with 11 per cent.
Messi is not among the three nominees for UEFA best player in Europe, which are Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Antoine Griezmann. The winner will be announced on Thursday night during the draw for the first phase of the UEFA Champions league.