FIFA announced the initial shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or award.
The winner of the prestigious individual trophy will be unveiled at the Fifa Ballon d’Or gala as part of a televised show at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 13 January 2014. He will be elected by a vote of the captains and head coaches of the men’s national teams, as well as by international media representatives selected by France Football. In early December, FIFA will announce the three finalists that have received the most votes. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the prestigious award for the world footballer of the year for the past four years. This year he is again among the favourites.
Men’s shortlist for the Ballon d’Or is below:
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid/Wales), Edinson Cavani (Paris St Germain/Uruguay), Radamel Falcao (Monaco/Colombia), Eden Hazard (Chelsea/Belgium), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St Germain/Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich/Germany), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund/Poland), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich/Germany), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich/Germany), Neymar (Barcelona/Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/Germany), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus/Italy), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/France), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich/Netherlands), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich/Germany), Luis Suarez (Liverpool/Uruguay), Thiago Silva (Paris St Germain/Brazil), Yaya Toure (Manchester City/Ivory Coast), Robin van Persie (Manchester United/Netherlands), Xavi (Barcelona/Spain).
