Soccer News 2015: FIFA Releases Final Three Players on Ballon d'Or Shortlist
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are at it again — two of the world's best soccer players comprise the shortlist, along with Brazilian star Neymar, for the 2015 edition of the FIFA Ballon d'Or. This will be the seventh occasion in eight years for Ronaldo and Messi to be contesting for the world's best player.
Messi, an Argentinian player, currently holds the longest streak for a podium finish, which currently stands at nine straight years. He also has won this very same distinction four times, from 2009 up to 2012. As for the Portuguese Ronaldo, he won the Ballon d'Or three times. The first one was when he was still with Manchester United, while the last two came while playing for Real Madrid.
To attest to these two players' dominance is the fact that there was only one time in seven years when they didn't grab the first and second places; this was in 2010 when Ronaldo wasn't included in the top 3 that comprises Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Messi.
Ronaldo earlier admitted that Messi deserves more to win it this year and he's right. The Argentine national is a huge favorite heading into the final month of the year. And when he gets it this year, it'll be his fifth. An interesting note is that the 28-year-old actually wasn't able to play for his club for two months due to an injury. In spite of that, he still managed to score 48 goals so far, leading his team to the Champions League, La Liga, and the Kings' Cup treble.
The Ballon d'Or is voted by the national team coaches and captains, as well as journalists from around the world. The winner will be announced in a Zurich-hosted ceremony scheduled on Jan. 11. Neymar is a Brazilian soccer star playing for FC Barcelona; Messi is a teammate of Neymar in the Spanish club, while Ronaldo plays for Real Madrid.
