The three finalists for this year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or award for the best player of 2014 have been released. As expected the nominees are Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Manuel Neuer (Germany).
Current holder Ronaldo and Messi have already won the award six times between them and the Real Madrid star is expected to repeat his win from last season after scoring 50 goals in 46 appearances for club and country in 2014 while also helping Real win the Champions League, Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup.
Four-time winner Messi, who recently broke the overall goalscoring record in La Liga and the Champions League, helped Argentina to the World Cup final and won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament in Brazil.
Neuer was one of the stars of Germany’s World Cup success, winning the Golden Glove as the tournament’s best keeper. He is long established as number one for club and country and added two further medals to his collection as Bayern won a domestic double last season. He is the first goalkeeper to make the final three since compatriot Oliver Kahn was included on the shortlist in 2002.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Zurich on January 12. Who do you expect to win?