Sports
Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo make Ballon d’Or shortlist
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo have been shortlisted for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or award.
The trio were chosen from a longer list of 23 names with the winner set to be revealed at a ceremony in Zurich on January 11.
Barcelona star, Messi is the warm favourite to claim the prize for the fifth time in his career after leading the Spanish club to a famous treble last season, although he has not been named player of year since 2012.
Ronaldo is bidding for a third successive award, while it would be a first success for Neymar were he to be named the winner at the ceremony.
All three candidates have been named among the 50 players to make the team of the year shortlist
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is one of three men shortlisted for the World Coach of the Year award.
The Catalan giants won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League under Enrique last season and he will go up against Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola and Chile’s Jorge Sampaoli for the prize.
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