Ronaldo, Messi and Neuer shortlisted for world player of year
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer have been shortlisted as finalists for the World Player of the Year award. You might know Ronaldo and Messi as they have been much in the news, but you might not have a good idea about who is Manuel Neuer. Well, he is the 28 year old goalkeeper from Germany. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, have between them, won the past six world player of the year awards. But this time, they face opposition from Germany's World Cup winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the short list announced by FIFA on Monday.
Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo, Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Argentinian player Lionel Messi .Neuer, Messi, Ronaldo were chosen as the three candidates for the FIFA Ballon d'Or with the winner due to be announced on January 12, 2015.
AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO / GERARD JULIEN Ronaldo, who is the present holder of the title having also won it in 2008, scored a record 17 goals in a Champions League campaign as Real Madrid went on to win their 10th European Cup last term. Messi, the only player to have won the award four times, failed to win a title this year either with Barcelona or Argentina, although he was integral in his country reaching the World Cup final where they lost 1-0 in extra-time to Germany. The 27-year-old Messi did pick up the consolation of player of the tournament.
Neuer, who was outstanding in goal for Germany and for his club 'Bayern Munich' would be only the second goalkeeper to win the award, which is announced on January 12 in Zurich.
Other shortlisted finalists were also announced:
