The battle for UEFA player of the Year Award has began

Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah, and Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric, are set to battle title holder Cristiano Ronaldo for the UEFA player of the Year award.

Salah, reigning African best player, had a great first season at Liverpool, where he scored a total of 44 goals in all competitions and reached the final of the Champions League.

The Egypt star becomes the first Premier League player to make the top three of the award since its inception in 2010-11, and is also the first African player to do so.

Modric, on the other hand, played an integral part in Real’s record-breaking season in the continent, as they lifted a third consecutive Champions League title.

But Ronaldo, who scored 15 goals in 13 Champions League appearances to help Real Madrid win the trophy, remains a strong contender for the player award.

The Portuguese, who recently moved to Juventus, also netted 26 goals in 27 La Liga games, plus two goals at the Club World Cup.

Other players that made the top 10 are: Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe, Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, Real’s Raphael Varane, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard an