Zurich, Dec 1: Record-breaking Argentine Lionel Messi, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Manuel Neuer of Germany have made up the final 3 nominees for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2014 award.
Full list of records broken by Messi
Today, FIFA announced the final 3 for the big prize, trimmed from an initial 23-man list, and Messi has a chance to win his 5th Ballon d'Or (formerly FIFA World Player of the Year award).
Messi won the honour in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The 27-year-old recently broke the La Liga goal-scoring record and also claimed the Champions League top goals record.
Ronaldo, 29, has scored 51 goals in the 2013-14 season and his remarkable form helped his club Real Madrid win the Champions League.
German goalkeeper Neuer, 28, won the World Cup this year in Brazil. He is the first goalkeeper since compatriot Oliver Khan to make the final 3 shortlist of the award.
This award and other honours will be presented at a ceremony in Zurich on 12 January 2015. Also, the recipient of the FIFA Presidential Award and the winner of the FIFA Fair Play award will be revealed during the award ceremony.
All the nominees were confirmed after a voting process which was open to the captains and head coaches of the men's and women's national teams of the 209 member associations as well as to international media representatives selected by FIFA and France Football voted for candidates, FIFA said.
The final nominees for various FIFA awards
FIFA Ballon d'Or - Men
Women's World Player of the Year
FIFA World Coach of the Year - Men
FIFA World Coach of the Year - Women
FIFA Puskas Award for the "most beautiful goal of the year"
Previous 5 Ballon d'Or winners
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