ANTONIO CONTE has been named as one of the top three bosses on the planet.
The Chelsea chief is on Fifa’s three-man shortlist, along with Zinedine Zidane and Max Allegri.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar are predictably picked as the stars up for the players’ prize at the FIFPro awards bash in London on October 23.
Conte guided Chelsea to the title in his first season in charge after leaving his post with Italy.
And he will be looking to emulate fellow Italian gaffer Claudio Ranieri, who won last year’s gong after his miraculous 5,000-1 title triumph with Leicester.
Ranieri finished with five per cent more of the vote than Real boss Zidane, who had won the Champions League in his first season as a manager.
After winning the Liga title last season AND defending their European crown, Zidane will be massive favourite to go better than last year.
Allegri might also fancy his chances after a remarkable season with Juventus last season.
Zidane’s Real denied Allegri a Champions League trophy in Cardiff, but he scooped a third successive Serie A title to go with the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.
Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar all set La Liga alight last season – with Ronaldo expected to pip Messi to the award yet again.
The Portuguese superstar won Euro 2016 after helping Real to their European triumph weeks earlier.
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And he came out with 34 per cent of the vote, compared to Messi’s 26, beating Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann into third and Neymar into fourth.
With the same trophy haul as Zidane last season, Ronaldo can expect to bag an award.
He netted 42 goals in 46 games across all competitions for Los Blancos, with rivals Messi bagging 54 in 52.
There is one other player category too – for keepers.
Juve’s Gianluigi Buffon, Real’s Keylor Navas and Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer are the men nominated.
Nils Nielsen (Denmark), Gerard Precheur (Lyon) and Sarine Wiegman (Netherlands) are those up for the best women’s team coach.
Deyna Castellanos (Santa Clarita Blue Heat/Florida State Seminoles), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash/Manchester City) and Like Martens (Barcelona) are the women’s players up for an award.
There is also a fan award, with Dortmund, Celtic and Copenhagen the clubs in the mix.
⚽ Ian Wright's First Goalscorer Tips ⚽
Sun Bets are the best price on all first goalscorers in the Premier League this season
Former striker Ian Wright selects his top picks for the weekend.
- Harry Kane (West Ham v Spurs): “The Tottenham star is up and running now.” (3/1 – add to your betslip)
- Jermain Defoe (Everton v Bournemouth): “Jermain is looking sharp and ready to pounce.” (13/2 – add to your betslip)
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Jamie Vardy (Leicester v Liverpool): “He’s the standout contender to give the Foxes the lead.” (11/2 – add to your betslip)
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