Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar to contest 2015 Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, laments after missing a goal during their Spanish La Liga soccer match, between SD Eibar and Real Madrid, at Ipurua stadium in Eibar, northern Spain, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar will contest the 2015 Ballon d’Or competition after the shortlist was whittled down from 23 names to just three, Federation Internationale de Football Association has announced.

The 23-year-old also feels team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez merit a place on the podium for the prestigious award, which will be presented at a ceremony in Zurich in January.

“Thanks to the history we are making and because of what we have conquered, all three should be there”.

Even before the award was merged with France Football’s Ballon d’Or in 2010, the men’s World Player of the Year had effectively become an annual private “Clasico” between two of the great players of any generation.

Barcelona’s Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring Barca’s second goal against Real Sociedad.

Most surprising has been that talisman Messi has been injured for most of that remarkable run, having missed nearly two months with a knee problem and only returning to action in the 4-0 pulverising of Real Madrid the previous weekend.

The victor is announced at a gala in Zurich on January 11 when a series of other awards are handed out.

The coach of the year shortlist features Chile’s Copa América victor Jorge Sampaoli, alongside Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola and Barcelona’s Luis Enrique.

England women’s manager Mark Sampson – who led his team to third at the World Cup – is one of three candidates for the Women’s Coach of the Year accolade.