Messi, Neymar battle Ronaldo for Best FIFA Player award

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and PSG’s Neymar have emerged the final three nominees for the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award.

Ronaldo, the overwhelming favourite to win the award, led Real Madrid to the La Liga title and a third Champions League success in four years last season.

The 32-year old won last year’s award after winning the Champions League with Madrid and the European Championship with Portugal.

But he now faces strong oppositions from Argentine superstar Messi and the world’s most expensive player, Neymar.

30-year old Messi, who is a record five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, scored 54 goals last season as Barcelona won the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, and has made a superb start this season, scoring 12 goals in eight games in all competitions.

Neymar also won the Copa del Rey with Barcelona last season before joining Paris Saint-Germain in a blockbuster 222 million euros move.

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The event unraveling the eventual winner will be held on 23 October at the London Palladium.

The Best Goalkeeper Award will be competed for by Gianluigi Buffon, Keylor Navas and Manuel Neuer.

Also, Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane will vie for the Coach of the Year award with Juventus’ Maxmilliano Aleggri and Chelsea’s Antonio Conte fellow contenders.

Men’s Player final nominnes
* Cristiano Ronaldo (POR / Real Madrid)
* Lionel Messi (ARG – FC Barcelona)
* Neymar (BRA – FC Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)

Men’s Coach final nominees
* Massimiliano Allegri (ITA – Juventus)
* Antonio Conte (ITA – Chelsea)
* Zinedine Zidane (FRA – Real Madrid)

Best Goalkeeper final nominees
* Gianluigi Buffon (ITA – Juventus)
* Keylor Navas (CRC – Real Madrid)
* Manuel Neuer (GER – FC Bayern Munich)

Women’s Player final nominees
* Deyna Castellanos (VEN – Santa Clarita Blue Heat/Florida State Seminoles)
* Carli Lloyd (USA – Houston Dash/Manchester City Women)
* Lieke Martens (NED – FC Barcelona Femeni)

Women’s Coach final nominees
* Nils Nielsen (DEN – Danish national team)
* Gerard Precheur (FRA – Olympique Lyonnais Feminin)
* Sarina Wiegman (NED – Netherlands national team)

 

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