Mohamed Salah up against Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for Champions League best forward award

Salah enjoyed a spectacular campaign last season helping Liverpool go all the way to the final where they lost to Real Madrid. (AFP)

• The Egyptian ace scored 10 goals as Liverpool marched all the way to the final.
• Winners to be announced at the Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on Aug. 30.

Mohamed Salah joined regulars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on UEFA’s shortlist for the best forward who played in Champions League last season, football’s European governing body has announced.
Ronaldo, who won the award last year, topped the scoring charts with 15 goals in the competition as Real Madrid won a third consecutive European crown.
Egypt’s Salah led Liverpool’s remarkable run to the final with 10 goals and four assists, that was on the top of a record 32 goals in the Premier League. While Barcelona talisman Messi netted six goals in the European competition.
The best defender is sure to be from Real with their trio of Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane the only names short-listed for the award.
Real duo Toni Kroos and Luka Modric will compete with Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne for the midfielder award.
New Liverpool signing Alisson’s performances for AS Roma earned him a place on the goalkeeper shortlist.
He will compete for the honor with Real Madrid’s Costa Rica international Keylor Navas and Italian Gianluigi Buffon, who completed a switch from Juventus to Paris Saint Germain last month.
The winners will be announced during the Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on Aug. 30.
The nominees were selected by a jury of 32 coaches from last year’s Champions League participants and 55 journalists.