The FIFA Ballon d'Or is easily one of the most coveted awards to receive in the world of football because the winner is deemed the best player in the world. After revealing over twenty footballers on an extended shortlist earlier this year, three finalists were named this week. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are competing once again for the prize, but are joined by rising star Neymar Jr. as well in 2015. On Jan. 11, 2016 in Switzerland, the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala will take place, naming this year's winner. Read more on this news below.
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Over the last seven years, Messi and Ronaldo have been named the best players in the sport, with the Real Madrid star winning the past three years in a row and the living legend at FC Barcelona winning the four consecutive years prior to that. This is the first year that Neymar has made it to the finalists' shortlist for the Ballon d'Or, which means he is the underdog this year.
Oddly enough, Neymar leads La Liga as the top scorer with 14 goals this season, while Messi has been out due to an injury and Ronaldo under-performing. Neymar definitely deserves recognition this year, but many experts and columnists predict that this is not his year.
The favorite is Messi and Ronaldo agrees! While appearing on iTV's The Jonathan Ross Show earlier this month, he explained his reasoning quite bluntly.
"I think Messi is going to win this year because this kind of trophy, it depends on votes," he said.
The winner will be announced soon, so we'll find out who was right and who was wrong in guessing the top footballer of the year. Either way, fill out our poll below to voice your opinions!
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