Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer named on final Ballon d'Or shortlist

Ronaldo (left) has won the award twice, in 2008 and 2013, while Messi has picked up the crown four times.


•    Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer on final shortlist
•    Ronaldo is the reigning champion after winning in 2013
•    Messi is a four-time winner of the award from 2009 to 2012
•    Ronaldo also won in 2008 when he played for Manchester United
•    German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer completes final shortlist
•    Final ceremony will take place in Zurich on January 12
Past winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are again the leading contenders for the FIFA Ballon d'Or as the world's best player.
The pair, stars of Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, have both been named on the three-man shortlist for the 2015 edition of the prestigious award along with Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Current holder Ronaldo and Messi have already won the award six times between them.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named on the Ballon d'Or shortlist after another stellar year

Portugal international Ronaldo, 29, scooped the prize for the second time last year and is again considered the favourite having scored 50 goals in 46 appearances for club and country in 2014.
He also helped Real win the Champions League, Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup.

 Four-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has also been named on the final shortlist this year

Four-time winner Messi, 27, who recently broke the overall goalscoring record in La Liga, helped Argentina to the World Cup final and won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament in Brazil.
Neuer, 28, 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.
Italy's Gianluigi Buffon was nominated for the old France Football award in 2006, although at the time that was restricted only to players based with European clubs.
The trio were nominated for the award after initially being named on a long list of 23 candidates.
Germany's Joachim Low and Real's Carlo Ancelotti were nominated for coach of the year along

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer completes the final shortlist for the prestigious award

Ronaldo, Messi and Neuer were also included among a list of contenders for places in the FIFPro World XI along with Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney and Real's Welsh star Gareth Bale.
The controversy surrounding former Liverpool forward Luis Suarez at the World Cup - he was banned by world governing body FIFA after biting Giorgio Cheillini during Uruguay's clash with Italy - did not prevent him being nominated.
A number of other Barclays Premier League players are also in contention with Thibaut Courtois, Branislav Ivanovic, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Angel di Maria, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Mesut Ozil, Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa also named.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Zurich on January 12.

PREVIOUS WINNERS 
2013 - Cristiano Ronaldo
2012 - Lionel Messi
2011 - Lionel Messi
2010 - Lionel Messi
2009 - Lionel Messi
2008 - Cristiano Ronaldo
2007 - Kaka
2006 - Fabio Cannavaro
2005 - Ronaldinho


Daily Mail.