UEFA has announced the nominees for the UEFA Club Football Awards with a total of 12 players shortlisted both for the positional awards and for the overall prize of UEFA Club Footballer of the Year.

The UEFA Club Football Awards will be presented during the UEFA Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on Thursday 26 August, with three players apiece in contention for the best goalkeeper, best defender, best midfielder and best forward awards.

The nominations are decided by the coaches of the 16 teams that reached the knockout stage of the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League. Each coach has the opportunity of voting for the individual positional prizes as well as to name their choice for UEFA Club Footballer of the Year 2010.

One of the following 12 players in line for a positional award will be presented with the main item of silverware during the awards ceremony at the Grimaldi Forum, which begins at 17.45CET next Thursday.

UEFA Best Goalkeeper of the Year

Júlio César (FC Internazionale Milano)

Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyonnais)

Víctor Valdés (FC Barcelona)

UEFA Best Defender of the Year

Lúcio (FC Internazionale Milano)

Maicon (FC Internazionale Milano)

Gerard Piqué (FC Barcelona)

UEFA Best Midfielder of the Year

Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona)

Arjen Robben (FC Bayern München)

Wesley Sneijder (FC Internazionale Milano)

UEFA Best Forward of the Year

Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)

Diego Milito (FC Internazionale Milano)

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United FC)

Soccerlens Picks

Best Goalkeeper: Cesar

Best Defender: Lucio

Best Midfielder: Xavi

Best Forward: Messi

Best Overall: Xavi.