FRENCHMAN Antoine Griezmann joined regulars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the shortlist for FIFA’s Player of the Year award Friday.

    Claudio Ranieri and Fernando Santos, the men behind two of the year’s biggest surprises, were nominated for the best coach award alongside Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane.

    Germany’s Melanie Behringer, last year’s winner Carli Lloyd of the United States and Brazil’s five-time winner Marta were nominated for the women’s Player of the Year award.

    Ronaldo helped Portugal win Euro 2016, although his performances were often criticized and he was injured early in the final against France, and he won the UEFA Champions League with Real. Messi led Argentina to the final of the Copa Centenario, where it lost to Chile, and won La Liga with Barcelona. Griezmann earned a spot with his performances for France at Euro 2016. (SD-Agencies)