Messi set to get 5th FIFA best player prize, end Ronaldo run

Reports from L’Equipe suggest that Messi’s contract with EA Sports will come to an end this year, and that he is open to a contract extension. Messi’s Barcelona teammate Neymar is the other candidate.

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina), Neymar (Barcelona and Brazil) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal).

Real Madrid star Ronaldo has won football’s most prestigious individual accolade for the last two years but Barcelona’s Messi is the heavy favourite to win the 2015 prize.

“I doubt there will be another play liked Messi”.

That’s what will hurt Ronaldo’s case to claim his third consecutive Ballon d’Or, and could be why he actually slips down to third in voting behind Messi and Neymar.

He netted 43 times past year forming a deadly attacking partnership with Messi and Luis Suarez for Barcelona, but he was singled out for particular praise for his performances when Messi spent time out of the team due to injury.

Zidane was given a hero’s welcome after replacing the sacked Rafael Benitez earlier in the week and Madrid was rarely troubled after Karim Benzema gave the hosts the lead 15 minutes in.

“My only regret is not winning the Champions League when we were so close in 2014”, he said.

Messi completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute by turning in the rebound after Neymar had hit the post, then Neymar ended the rout by making it 4-0 seven minutes from the end. Lloyd is a finalist for the first time at 33 after a decade of national team duty, more than 200 appearances and two Olympic titles. Sasic, meanwhile, took home the World Cup’s Golden Boot and also top-scored as her club Frankfurt won the Champions League, before retiring from soccer in July.

“We all know who deserves it and if nothing unusual happens one of the two of here will win”, he said.

Americans swept the 2012 awards when forward Abby Wambach and coach Pia Sundhage were rewarded for the team’s Olympic title. Guardiola is now in Qatar overseeing Bayern’s training camp, and will miss the Ballon d’Or gala along with his players.

The goal award is chosen by fans until Monday.

Lionel Messi has scored in each of Barcelona’s past four home league games.

When arguably the best player ever to grace a football pitch wins an award that itself betters anything that has gone before, you’ll have to excuse us here at Pies for taking our gaze off the domestic game for just a moment to take heed.

Acting FIFA president Issa Hayatou will make the formal opening speech.