Neymar on Ballon D’Or shortlist alongside Messi, Ronaldo

The three players are Spanish league players and they as follow: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona) and Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona).

Neymar (14 goals) scored two goals in Saturday’s 4-0 La Liga victory over Real Sociedad at Camp Nou, securing him the top spot as the league’s best scorer for now.

Federation Internationale de Football Association will announce the victor at the Ballon d’Or Gala in Zurich on January 11 along with four other awards.

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Neymar’s award was another surprising selection, particularly after it was announced that Luis Suarez and Rodriguez finished as joint runner-up, while Argentine Messi was not mentioned.

Barcelona’s Luis Enrique has been nominated, after leading the Catalan giants to the treble last season, beating Allegri’s Juve in the Champions League final.

This is the eighth successive year that Ronaldo and Messi have been shortlisted for the Ballon d’or, and the previous seven awards have been shared between the two great rivals. He won the award in the 2011 edition. He has scored 19 goals in 20 games for Real Madrid.

Barca won the competition, which features the six continental champions, under former coach Pep Guardiola in 2009 and 2011 having lost out to Brazilian side Internacional in 2006 in their first appearance.

Also unveiled on Monday were the three finalists for the FIFA Puskas Award for the “most attractive goal of the year”.

The FIFA Ballon d’Or is easily one of the most coveted awards to receive in the world of football because the victor is deemed the best player in the world.

Who do you think should win this year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or?

The women’s player shortlist is headed by American World Cup victor Carli Lloyd, Aya Miyama (Japan) and Celia Sasic (Germany).

Ronaldo had to settle for the Fans’ Five Star Player award, with Madrid captain Sergio Ramos named Best Defender and the Best Midfielder award going to Colombian team-mate James Rodriguez.