UEFA have announced their shortlist for the 2016 team of the year. 40 players are on that list, but only two Italians; Juventus duo Gianluigi Buffon and Leonardo Bonucci. The list in full:
 

Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Keylor Navas (Real Madrid), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus). 
 

Defenders: Gerard Piqué (Barcelona), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Sergio Ramos, Pepe & Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Diego Godin & Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich).   

Midfielders: Dimitry Payet (West Ham), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Joe Allen (Stoke City), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Luka Modrid & Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Paris Saint Germain). 
 

Strikers: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez & Neymar (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo & Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal).

Steve Mitchell @barafundler