Real Madrid’s French striker Karim Benzema, Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and late Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will be in the running for the European Player of the Year award, Confederation of Football (WIFA) announced today. The award rewards the best player on the Old Continent and will be presented on the sidelines of the Champions League group stage draw on August 25.

Benzema, who played a strong role in his side’s European Champions League win over Liverpool in the final and was crowned the tournament’s top scorer with 15 goals, is a strong candidate behind Italian Jorginho, the Chelsea midfielder. Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 matches played in various competitions in the 2021-2022 season and Real Madrid won the Spanish championship with him.

By scoring the second goal against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday in the European Super Cup, Benzema became the second top scorer in Real Madrid’s history with 324 goals, overtaking club legend Raul Gonzalez.

Courtois, Real Madrid goalkeeper and Benzema’s teammate, was named man of the match in the Champions League final, where he made several saves that helped his team to the crown. He lost the team.