The Barcelona pair will be looking to deny the Real Madrid star a third consecutive gong when the winner is announced in January.

Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Neymar will duke it out with Real Madrid man Cristiano Ronaldo for the Ballon d'Or as FIFA announced the final three-man shortlist.

Former Manchester United star Ronaldo is gunning for his third consecutive award, after he pipped Messi to the prestigious prize in 2013 and 2014, after the Argentinian picked up the gong for four years in a row prior to that.

Messi is the favourite for the prize, having led Barcelona to a domestic and European treble last term.

This is the first time that Brazilian Neymar has made the final three and he believes his inclusion is justified.

"I think I do deserve to be [among the finalists] for what I'm doing,” the 23-year-old told Globo Esporte before the final three were announced.

“I would be happy if the trident [Neymar, Messi and Suarez] was among the three.

"Thanks to the history we are making and because of what we have conquered, all three should be there."

Messi is up for a double at the ceremony which will take place on January 11 in Zurich, as he has also been nominated for the Puskas award which honours the best goal of the year. Roma's Alessandro Florenzi and Brazilian striker Wendell Lira make up the rest of the three-man shortlist.

Elsewhere, the coach of the year award will be contested between Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola, Barcelona's Luis Enrique and Jorge Sampaoli who led Chile to their first ever Copa America success.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-neymar-6926667

Its Messi this one and the next shall be Neymar.

where's saurezitttoooo.... what the Bleep is penaldo doing on that fucking list

Abeg, Make Fifa go Siddon... we already know the Winner.

cumz:
where's saurezitttoooo.... what the Bleep is penaldo doing on that fucking list

Go sleep Ma Friend... Who Suarez wan bench for that List?

Luis Suarez vs Cristiano in 2015. Games: 52-52, Gials: 40-48, Assists: 22-14, Trophies: 4-0. Also Suarez delivered in big games.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal
After winning the third FIFA Ballon d’Or of his career at the start of 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo continued to perform at his very best, racking up the goals to end the league season as its highest scorer with 48 in all, his biggest haul in Spain to date. He very nearly ended the UEFA Champions League season as its leading marksmen as well, tying with Lionel Messi on ten goals but serving up fewer assists. Cristiano nevertheless etched his name in the Real Madrid history books by becoming the club’s leading all-time scorer, eclipsing fellow Blanco legends Alfredo Di Stefano and Raul. The Portuguese also enjoyed a productive year on the international front, skippering A Seleçao das Quinas to direct qualification for UEFA EURO 2016, a relief for him and his team-mates following three consecutive appearances in EURO and World Cup play-offs.




Lionel MESSI
Argentina
The Argentinian star recaptured the form and sharpness that has brought him four FIFA Ballons d’Or to date. Barcelona’s leading marksman in the league with 43 goals, he fired his side to yet another title and also top-scored in their victorious UEFA Champions League campaign, contributing ten goals and six assists. One of the highlights of another hugely productive season came in the Copa del Rey final win over Athletic Bilbao, with Messi slaloming his way past several opponents on a long, mazy run before conjuring up a clinical finish inside the box. The elusive forward also played a decisive part in Argentina’s run to the final of the Copa America Chile 2015, serving up three assists, the joint-highest tally in the competition along with Chile’s Jorge Valdivia.



NEYMAR
Brazil
Coming into his own in his second season with Barcelona, Neymar consolidated his position as one third of a lethal three-pronged attack. Following the shining example set by Lionel Messi, the Brazilian was his side’s second-highest scorer in their league, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League treble-winning campaign, contributing 39 goals in 51 matches. Troubled by injury in his debut year, Neymar was Barça’s third-most used player in the league last season. Now 23, he is keen to continue making history with his club, commenting after their UEFA Super Cup win that he has changed his game and his way of life. A devilish dribbler and deadly finisher, the gifted forward has for the last two years been the star act of a Brazil side that is now looking to rebuild after its FIFA World Cup™ woes on home soil in 2014

After messi na messi in the world of soccer..........

What is Neymar doing there?