World football's governing body has announced the remaining
candidates to win the prestigious individual trophy this year,
with six Bayern Munich players making the cut
Fifa and France Football have revealed the 23-man shortlist
for the 2013 Fifa Ballon d'Or, with title-holder Lionel Messi,
Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery and Real Madrid attacker
Cristiano Ronaldo among the candidates to win the individual
award.
Ribery is accompanied by five Bayern Munich team-mates
following the Bundesliga giants' impressive 2012-13
campaign.
Furthermore, usual suspects such as Andres Iniesta and Xavi
have made the cut, as well as Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan
Ibrahimovic.
The final decisions will be made by the captains and head
coaches of the men’s national teams as well as international
media representatives selected by France Football.
In early December 2013, Fifa and France Football will
announce the names of the three men who have received the
most votes, without revealing the winner.
The winners of the award will be revealed at the Fifa Ballon
d’Or gala as part of a televised show at the Zurich
Kongresshaus on 13 January 2014.
Last year's podium was made up of Messi, Ronaldo and
Iniesta.
SHORTLIST IN FULL:
Franck Ribery Bayern Munich France
Arjen Robben Bayern Munich Netherlands
Thomas Muller Bayern Munich Germany
Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich Germany
Philipp Lahm Bayern Munich Germany
Bastian SchweinsteigerBayern Munich Germany
Lionel Messi Barcelona Argentina
Andres Iniesta Barcelona Spain
Xavi Barcelona Spain
Neymar Barcelona Brazil
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Paris Saint-GermainSweden
Edinson Cavani Paris Saint-GermainUruguay
Thiago Silva Paris Saint-GermainBrazil
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Portugal
Gareth Bale Real Madrid Wales
Mesut Ozil Arsenal Germany
Robin van Persie Manchester United Netherlands
Yaya Toure Manchester City Cote d'Ivoire
Luis Suarez Liverpool Uruguay
Andrea Pirlo Juventus Italy
Radamel Falcao Monaco Colombia
Eden Hazard Chelsea Belgium
Robert Lewandowski Borussia Dortmund Poland


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Messi