Fifa has announced the
shortlist for this year's Fifa Ballon d'Or trophy, with 23 men who were selected by
their football committee as
well as by experts from the
magazine France Football. Containing 12 players who are
home to La Liga, this year's list
is seeing a Spanish domination
with two-times winner Lionel
Messi, who on monday already
grabbed the European Golden Shoe award for scoring 50 La
Liga goals last season, being
eager to score his third
consecutive award. Real Madrid star Cristiano
Ronaldo is expected to be a
strong contender for the
prestigious prize as well,
having played a big role in his
side's championship win last season with the help of fellow
nominees Mesut Ozil, Iker
Casillas, Karim Benzema, Xabi
Alonso and Sergio Ramos. The final decisions will be
made by the captains and
coaches of the national teams
and international media
representatives, leading into
the announcement of the next three finalists on November 29
at a press conference in Sao
Paulo, Brazil. Fifa Ballon d'Or gala will take
place at the Zurich
Kongresshaus on January 7
2013, along with the
Presedential and Fair Play
trophies being awarded in the same night. BALLON D'OR NOMINEES Sergio Aguero Manchester City Mario Balotelli Manchester City Karim Benzema Real Madrid Gianluigi Buffon Juventus Sergio Busquets Barcelona Iker Casillas Real Madrid Didier Drogba Shanghai Shenhua Radamel Falcao Atletico Madrid Zlatan Ibrahimovic PSG Andres Iniesta Barcelona Lionel Messi Barcelona Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich Neymar Santos Mesut Ozil Real Madrid Gerard Pique Barcelona Andrea Pirlo Juventus Sergio Ramos Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Wayne Rooney Manchester United Yaya Toure Manchester City Robin van Persie Manchester United Xabi Alonso Real Madrid Xavi Hernandez