The UEFA Player of the Year award has been LEAKED early ahead of Thursday's official reveal.

Chelsea midfielders N'Golo Kante and Jorginho are joined by Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne on the shortlist for UEFA's Player of the Year award.

However, according to a leaked report, Jorginho will beat Kante and De Bruyne to be crowned UEFA's Player of the Year.

Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb claim that sources close to UEFA have told them the 29-year-old will be named the winner at Thursday's Champions League draw in Istanbul.

The Chelsea and Italy ace had a scintillating club campaign last season, helping the Blues to Champions League glory.

He also starred for Italy as his national team won Euro 2020, beating England on penalties.

Jorginho will mark his superb efforts for club and country with the UEFA Player of the Year gong and winning the individual prize will stand him in good stead to bag the coveted Ballon d'Or this year.

And the former Napoli man reckons he could win the award if it's based on titles, saying no one has won more than him.

"We live for dreams," he told SportTV.

"But I'll be honest enough: it depends on the criteria that leads to assigning it.

"If we talk about talent, I'm aware I'm not the best in the world.

"If you choose based on titles, well, no-one has won more than me this season."

https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-uefa-player-of-the-year-award-leaked-early-ahead-of-official-reveal-20210825

And the winner is Jorginho