Lionel Messi says Luis Suarez should be on Ballon d’Or shortlist

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo will join Messi and Neymar on the podium in Zurich on January 11 to crown the world’s best player, with Messi the hot favourite to land his fifth Ballon d’Or.

He was instrumental in helping Barca win a stunning treble last season, including the Champions League, after starring alongside team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

The trio have already contributed 30 league goals this season, despite a spell on the sidelines for Messi, as Barcelona opened up a four point lead at the summit.

Neymar too echoed Messi’s sentiment saying that Suarez also needs to have been on the ultimate three for the Ballon d’Or.

This will be the seventh occasion in eight years for Ronaldo and Messi to be contesting for the world’s best player. In 2014/15, they combined to score 81 La Liga goals, as Barcelona won the title.

Barcelona forward Neymar said on Monday that he is not thinking about football’s Ballon d’Or award for which he is a final nominee.

Luis Enrique refused to be drawn on the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s inclusion in the FIFA Ballon d’Or shortlist ahead of Luis Suarez, stating “there are good players in other teams”. The Argentine will be looking to get his fourth FIFA Ballon D’Or following an wonderful season for the Blaugrana while Ronaldo is looking to get third. In 2009, Messi finished with 473 out of a possible 480 first-place votes, more than doubling Ronaldo’s total that year of 233 votes and setting a record separation of 240 votes between first and second place.

The prize is the most prestigious individual player award in the game and the three were chosen from a longer list of 23 names which also included Wales and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale. “I thank my teammates for all they do”.