Ronaldo
Lionel
Messi, Franck Ribery, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Neymar are
among 23 candidates on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or announced by
FIFA on Tuesday.
Ribery, who won UEFA’s best player in
Europe award for the 2012-13 season, helped Bayern Munich win the UEFA
Champions League and Bundesliga and German Cup titles.
Messi, winner of the last four Ballon
d’Or awards in voting by coaches, team captains and media, was injured
late in the season and could not prevent Barcelona from being beaten by
Bayern in the Champions League semifinals.
The Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on January 13 in Zurich.
According to Skysports, Bale
became the world’s most expensive player when he joined Real Madrid from
Tottenham for 100m euros (£85.3m) in September after a 26-goal haul for
Spurs.
But he faces tough competition for the
prize from his Madrid teammate Ronaldo – winner in 2008 – and Barcelona
forward Messi, who has won the award for the last four years.
Five Premier League players – Manchester
United striker Robin van Persie, Manchester City’s Yaya Toure,
controversial Liverpool frontman Luis Suarez, Chelsea winger Eden Hazard
and Arsenal’s recent addition Mesut Ozil – make the cut – but there are
no English players included.
Ribery is joined by club-mates Philipp
Lahm, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Arjen Robben and Bastian
Schweinsteiger while Barcelona also have Xavi, Andres Iniesta and summer
signing Neymar among the candidates.
PSG trio Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson
Cavani and Thiago Silva have made the shortlist while fellow Ligue 1
big-spenders Monaco have a contender of their own in Radamel Falcao,
acquired from Atletico Madrid in the close season.
Former Manchester United manager Sir
Alex Ferguson, who retired at the end of last season, headlines a 10-man
coach of the year shortlist along with Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti
and Spain boss Vicente del Bosque.
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