Lionel Messi - Dancing feet

Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Xavi will fight Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo for the UEFA Best Player in Europe award after the list of nominees was announced.

The inaugural award will take place in August and the final trio have been announced after a jury of 53 sports journalists representing each of the UEFA member associations scaled down the list which included Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, and Barcelona's Andres Iniesta.

A deciding vote to determine which player will win the award takes place on August 25.

Lionel Messi is still enjoying his vacation with his family in Rosario, after given a longer summer break for competing in Copa America this month. But he won’t be all lazy for the break, since Juanjo Brau, Barcelona’s physiotherapist, provides him with working out routine in Rosario aswell, in order to maintain his physics when he returns to Barcelona.

Pep Guardiola actually gave another 3 weeks vacation for all players who played in the Copa America, yet after Argentina’s failure in Copa America, Messi wanted to start his training smoothly.

In August, Barcelona will have their preseason Tour in US, where besides meeting with US football team, they will also facing Manchester United. While Messi could be missing some of the match, since he has to concentrate for the Spanish Cup against Real Madrid in mid-August.

4. Andres Iniesta, Barcelona

5. Falcao, Porto

6. Wayne Rooney, Manchester United

7. Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United

8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, AC Milan

9. Gerard Pique, Barcelona

10. Manuel Neuer, Schalke/Bayern Munich.

Last year Messi won the FIFA Ballon d'Or, beating Iniesta and Xavi who were the other two finalists. Messi won the last European Player of the Year award in 2009.