Midfielder one of 40 nominees for Team of the Year

In all 40 players have been nominated for the 16th edition of the annual vote, with users asked to pick their team in their preferred formation from four goalkeepers, 12 defenders, 12 midfielders and 12 forwards.

The nominees were chosen by UEFA editorial staff on the basis of their performances for a European club or national team in 2016.

Allen enjoyed an outstanding summer as he helped Wales reach the Semi-Finals of EURO 2016. He made such a big impact in France that he was named in the team of the tournament.

You have until Tuesday 3rd January 2017 to register your vote on bet365, with the final line-up to be announced on Thursday 5th January on UEFA.com.

UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid CF provide eight UEFA.com Team of the Year nominees including current UEFA Best Player in Europe Cristiano Ronaldo, nominated for a record 13th time. UEFA Champions League runners-up Club Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona have five each.

While Ronaldo became the first player to be selected ten times last year, Lionel Messi topped the polling with 448,445 individual votes. Last year’s youngest nominee and one of seven of the 2015 XI nominated again, Paul Pogba, subsequently handed a €100,000 cheque on behalf of UEFA to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The UEFA.com users’ Team of the Year donation supports ICRC’s rehabilitation programme for landmine victims in Afghanistan. Through treatments, prosthetics and football, patients get back into shape and back to life. Being part of the centre’s football team especially helps players to reconnect with the community, make friends and rebuild their identity and self-esteem. UEFA’s partnership with the ICRC dates back to 1997, when the European football’s governing body pledged its support for the ICRC’s anti-landmine campaign.

The UEFA.com Team of the Year is not intended to rival more established awards and does not bear the official UEFA imprimatur. However, it has proved hugely popular with fans since its inception, with more than seven million votes cast last year alone.

For full details of the nominees and to place your vote, visit bet365.