Fifa have released the three-man shortlist for the 2015 Fifa Ballon d’Or, having whittled down the 23-man shortlist to just a trio of names.
Fifa Ballon d’Or shortlist revealed
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are the stars who remain in the running for the prestigious award, and it’s little surprise that Barcelona are represented by two players following their success in La Liga and in the Champions League during the 2014-15 season.
Messi remains the favourite to win the award, despite missing out to Ronaldo in 2013 and 2014. However, it’s worth noting that Messi did win the title of the world’s best player for four consecutive years between 2009 and 2012.
Indeed, with Ronaldo winning the award in 2008, the last time one of the pair didn’t win the Ballon d’Or was in 2007 when Kaka pipped the Portuguese superstar to the title.
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Monday’s announcement marks a decade since an English player made the last three in the running for the award, with Frank Lampard’s nomination in 2005 the last time a Three Lions star was considered in the elite trio.