UEFA Men's Player of the Year 2019: Analysing the top three nominees ahead of the ceremony

Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)

FC Barcelona v Arsenal - Pre-Season Friendly

Lionel Messi's scintillating individual season means he remains an overwhelming favourite for all individual awards this year. The Barcelona captain has been named UEFA Men's Player of the Year twice and stands a chance at adding a third to equal Ronaldo's record this year.

The Argentine maestro finished with a mind-blowing 51 goals and 22 assists in all competitions for Barcelona, with a goal involvement ratio of 1.46 goals per match. The 32-year-old also won his sixth European Golden Shoe courtesy of the 36 goals he scored in La Liga.

Many believe Messi's chances at winning individual acoolades this year have been dampened by his inability to keep his pre-season promise to guide the Blaugrana to the Champions League trophy. What initially looked like a quest for a third treble ended with only one of the three trophies following grand collapses by the Catalans in the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.

Having said that, the 32-year-old hardly has an attacking player to rival his insane numbers. Despite Barcelona's disappointing semi-final exit, he managed to score ten goals in the Champions League to win the competition's Golden Boot for the fifth time.

Individually, the only thing that could hamper his chances at winning the award is his national form for Argentina in the Copa America. Like Ronaldo, Messi netted three goals for his national team in the past year, but he once again failed to guide the Albiceleste to an international title, a fact that could definitely be used against him throughout the award season.