UEFA Awards 2019: Ranking the 3 nominees for Best Forward

#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Messi was unplayable last season

There really is only one clear winner for this award, and there's no prizes for guessing who it is. With all due respect to Mane and Ronaldo, Lionel Messi was on another level with his performances last season.

The Argentine international absolutely breezed his way through the group stage, sending a statement of intent by netting a spectacular hat-trick on the opening day against PSV.

pite missing two games with an fractured arm, Lionel Messi's class still shone through the group stages. He scored six goals and assisted one as Barcelona finished top of their group for the 12th year running - a Champions League record - and made it to the Round of 16 for the 15th consecutive year.

He did not stop there, as he continued his monstrous displays all through the knockout rounds, putting Lyon to the sword with a pair of goals and assists each in the 5-1 round-of-16 demolition. He then went on to break his quarterfinal hoodoo with a brace against Manchester United, and register another brace in what was an ultimately futile 3-0 semifinal victory over Liverpool.

In total, Lionel Messi ended the campaign with 12 goals, which was enough to see him win the UCL Golden Boot for the fifth time, while also contributing a further three assists from 10 games. These accolades and numbers are enough to install him as the overwhelming favourite to be named the 2019 UEFA Champions League Best Forward.