UEFA has announced the 2014 Team of the Year, as voted by the UEFA.com users, and the list features an array of Europe's most exciting players, including Ballon d’Or finalists Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Manuel Neuer.
The Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich stars were named in the Team of the Year as the award ceremony in Zurich draws ever closer, with the gala taking place on January 12.
Also on the list is World Cup-winning captain and Bayern Munich skipper Philipp Lahm, who after lifting the trophy at the famous Maracana Stadium in Brazil, announced his retirement from die Mannschaft.
Fellow World Cup winner Toni Kroos features on the list, alongside Real Madrid team-mate Sergio Ramos, who scored crucial goals for Los Blancos in their Champions Leauge and Fifa Club World Cup finals, which they went on to win.
Paris Saint-Germain’s talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic also received a nod after his impressive goalscoring form saw the French giants lift the Ligue 1 title and reach the Champions League quarter-final stage.
Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben, who was instrumental in Netherlands' World Cup campaign, which saw them finish third, makes the cut, further proof that he is one of the best out there currently.
David Alaba, Manchester United's Angel Di Maria, and Diego Godin, who was part of the Champions League runners-up Atletico Madrid side complete the Team of the Year.
UEFA's Team of the Year 2014
Who are the biggest names not to make the list? Given that performance on the European stage is the most crucial criteria, there is not much surprise as to why Luis Suarez did not make the cut.
Gareth Bale, Thomas Muller, and Eden Hazard may also find themselves unlucky not to book their place in the starting XI, but given the tough competition, they need not to beat themselves up over it.
