Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Manuel Neuer have been named on a three-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014.

Messi, winner on four occasions, led Argentina to the World Cup final before they lost 1-0 to Germany courtesy of Mario Goetze’s extra time winner. But despite winning the Golden Ball in Brazil, breaking the all-time Spanish goalscoring record and eclipsing Raul to break the Champions League equivalent, Messi endured a sub-standard year by his lofty standards.

Ronaldo is targeting consecutive crowns after winning in 2013.

The Portuguese forward helped Real Madrid end their hunt for an elusive Decima – a 10th Champions League crown – starring as they thrashed Bayern Munich in the semi-finals before notching a late penalty against Atletico Madrid in the final.

Neuer made a string of impressive displays en route to Germany lifting the World Cup. His famed sweeper-keeper role was most evident during the thrilling last-16 victory over Algeria where he had 21 touches outside his penalty area. The Bayern Munich star is the first goalkeeper to make the shortlist since Gianluigi Buffon in 2006 and is now aiming to become the first goalkeeper to win the award since Lev Yashin in 1963.

Here we look at the three contenders and see who deserve the award.

CRISTIANO RONALDO

Cristiano Ronaldo won last year’s Ballon d’Or, scoring 69 goals in 59 games for Real Madrid and Portugal in 2013. With 55 goals in 55 games this year he has been quite prolific more than any other player has managed this year in Europe’s top five leagues. He also wrapped up the Champions League single-season scoring record, with 17 goals in the 2013-14 season.

Seriously, Ronaldo is the best player on the planet on current form and has already scored 20 Liga goals – putting him on course to score around 60 in the league this season. Ronaldo set a new record in the Champions League this year, scoring 17 goals to help Real Madrid achieve a historic Decima, and is performing at a level, which has arguably never been matched in football’s long history. The Real Madrid promotional machine has been working overtime in his favour.

Ronaldo won in 2008 as well as 2013, and could become the fifth player to win the Ballon d’Or three times, joining Messi, Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten.

Although, the Real Madrid goal puncher scored just one goal in Brazil as Portugal side failed to qualify for the knockout stages.

Last week Michel Platini said how he believed a “world champion” should win the award in a World Cup year. Will that count against him with the voters?

LIONEL MESSI

Messi is already the only four-time Ballon d’Or winner and seeks his fifth award in six years after sweeping four straight trophies from 2009 to 2012.

In the past month alone he has become the all-time leading scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League and he continues to hunt defenders at home and abroad. He hasn’t won a trophy with Barcelona this year but that didn’t stop Ronaldo last year.

Sadly for Lionel Messi, both of his record feats in La Liga and the Champions League came after voting finished – and there was no repeat of last year’s events which saw FIFA reopen the voting to allow Ronaldo’s incredible World Cup play-off performance against Sweden to count.

Again, while Messi may have starred in the World Cup finals, the actual final itself was a bitter disappointment as he performed poorly in a loss to Germany, in terms of goalscoring potency at least, across 2014, Messi is an outside chance to win a fifth Ballon d’Or.

MANUEL NEUER

Neuer is a World Cup winner who captured the imagination of the football in Brazil with some vivacious displays.

As well as making all number of key saves for Die Mannschaft, Neuer thrilled with his interpretation of the sweeper keeper role, hurtling decisively out of his box to confirm his status as one of the best and most unorthodox keepers in football. His huge performances between the sticks helped Bayern to win a domestic double last season and at the weekend the Germans matched a Bundesliga record as they have now conceded just three times in 13 games.

Neuer has been widely praised for redefining his position with his willingness and ability to play the ball outside his penalty area. His 21 touches in the Round of 16 against Algeria were five more than any other keeper had in a game at any of the last three World Cups.

He is a goalkeeper. That’s not a judgement on the position, just a reflection of historical fact. The last time a goalkeeper ever made the shortlist was Gianluigi Buffon in 2006 – after winning the World Cup – and Lev Yashin is the solitary winner of the Ballon d’Or award from the goalkeepers’ union back in 1963. As transfer fees and salaries demonstrate so perfectly, football values goals more than it does clean sheets.

The FIFA award was founded in 1991 before merging with France Football’s Ballon d’Or, which dates back to 1956, in 2010.

The winner will be announced on January 12 at a ceremony in Zurich.

Which of these three World stars do you think deserves to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or award?
Source: e reporter.com.ng/index.php/sports-news/item/1923-who-deserves-the-fifa-ballon-d-or-ronaldo-messi-or-neuer

Cr7 of course

c.ronaldo, but somethin keeps shouting manuel neuer in my head.

I vote cr7

I would say CR7 But Neuer Was phenomenal. for a keeper to make that list is no small feat. he deserves the Golden ball. Cristy and Leo should rest abeg.after all Hazard,Neymar ,Oscar,isco,James Rodriguez etc are coming up fast.

CR7

cr7