Wales forward Gareth Bale is the only UK player on the 23-man shortlist for the Fifa 2014 men's world footballer of the year award. Bale managed to score 22 goals for Real Madrid last season, and contributed to the Spanish giants' success in the Champions League. Five Premier League players made the shortlist: Thibaut Courtois, Diego Costa, Angel Di Maria, Eden Hazard and Yaya Toure.
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo won the award last year and will be looking to retain it. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the award three times in the last four years and he is on the shortlist again, alongside team-mate Neymar. The 23-man shortlist will be reduced to just three in December before the winners are announced on 12 January, 2015 in Zurich.
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has not made the shortlist, despite having played a crucial role in leading Uruguay to the last 16 at the World Cup. He was suspended from all football-related activity for four months after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. Chelsea have three players on the list, Courtois, Costa and Hazard. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich dominate the best footballers shortlist, with each club supplying six names.
Here are all the names on the shortlist: Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Diego Costa (Spain, Chelsea), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Chelsea), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Angel Di Maria (Argentina, Manchester United), Mario Gotze (Germany, Bayern Munich), Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris St-Germain), Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid), Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany, Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil, Barcelona), Paul Pogba (France, Juventus), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, Bayern Munich), James Rodriguez (Colombia, Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast, Manchester City).
Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite to win the award, he is 1/5 to win it at BetVictor, while Lionel Messi is 7/1 and Neymar 16/1.
Shumar4life 9 years ago
Thomas Muller is my favorite also. He show on World cup what he can do, and he made difference for German team. He is also one of the rocks of the Bayern's team and we saw what Bayern under Guardiola can. Despite that he really plays very well and I am tired of this Ronaldo and Messi dominance
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Tomas.White 9 years ago
I think that Thomas Muller should win Ballon d'Or award. I respect Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi but Muller brought Germany World Cup and plays on top level for a long time. But he plays for Bayern Munich, in team where everyone play together. In Real Madrid and Barcelona, most of the team plays for Cristiano and Messi....
I think that Thomas Muller should win Ballon d'Or award. I respect Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi but Muller brought Germany World Cup and plays on top level for a long time. But he plays for Bayern Munich, in team where everyone play together. In Real Madrid and Barcelona, most of the team plays for Cristiano and Messi. Muller is pure football genius.
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mico.femic.1 9 years ago
Cristiano Ronaldo is a good player , but Lionel Messi is a better player than him and deserves to be always declared the best player while playing . Cristiano Ronaldo too much advertising and pushing it real , otherwise it would not be what it is. Lionel Messi is the best and she is never to be born player like him . and...
Cristiano Ronaldo is a good player , but Lionel Messi is a better player than him and deserves to be always declared the best player while playing . Cristiano Ronaldo too much advertising and pushing it real , otherwise it would not be what it is. Lionel Messi is the best and she is never to be born player like him . and not selfish in a game like Cristiano Ronaldo , he just plays for himself and not for the team .
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
You are right,Cristiano Ronaldo deserves it much more than Lionel Messi.He was key plaayer in Real Madrid's winning campaign in Champions League.I still can not believe that Messi won golden ball at the World Cup.It was hilarious desicion by FIFA.There were so much players that deserved it more than Messi.
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John Andrew 9 years ago
And I would vote that ballon d'or goes to some Germany players, for example Goetse or captain Lahm. But this is impossible, and I if must to go to Messi or Ronaldo, it definitely have to be Ronaldo, because, he have the best club season, he score the most goals and he won the champions league.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
Franjo you said that Mario Goetze does not deserve a spot on this list.How you can say that for the man that has scored a goal in the final of World Cup against Argentina.He brought World Cup trophy for Germany.I also disagree about Mascherano,he played fantastic at World Cup.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
Yes Milaneli,Neymar has a potential to break up domination of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.He showed how good is he few days ago in el Classico.You are right that none of German player did not had impact on their title like Messi or Ronaldo,but it is just because they are really team players and dont have ambitions...
Yes Milaneli,Neymar has a potential to break up domination of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.He showed how good is he few days ago in el Classico.You are right that none of German player did not had impact on their title like Messi or Ronaldo,but it is just because they are really team players and dont have ambitions to be the best players,for them it is only important success of the team.
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Franjo ?iDo 9 years ago
Cristiano Ronaldo will win, I'm sure in that, but some players should be on this list - Luka Modric ( best mf in Spain ), Vidal ( best mf in Italy ) , some of them don't deserve to be here, like Macherano or Mario Gotze, they are good players, but they were not on big level last year... Neuer is the best goalkeeper, but...
Cristiano Ronaldo will win, I'm sure in that, but some players should be on this list - Luka Modric ( best mf in Spain ), Vidal ( best mf in Italy ) , some of them don't deserve to be here, like Macherano or Mario Gotze, they are good players, but they were not on big level last year... Neuer is the best goalkeeper, but Ronaldo is Ronaldo and it will be big suprise for me if he don't get this prize...
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Milaneli 9 years ago
I guess what you saying is right, but really, compare all German players, their impact last season to Ronaldo's and Messi's. Those two just dominate the football scene, and guy who can mess them up in the future is only Neimar, if you ask me. I agree with Anderson, Neuer could me in top contenders, really deserves it.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
In my opinion Ballon d'Or should be won by some of the players from the Germany national team.They won the most important trophy in football.Anyone of them can win this trophy.I have some suggests.My favourite is Manuel Neuer.He is fantastic player and deffinitely deserves this.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
It is hard to talk about best player of the season.It probably was Ronaldo,but on the other side Messi had good season.Ronaldo was best in La Liga and Champions League,Messi was officialy the best player of World Cup.It will be interesting to see who will win this.
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timidi 9 years ago
On first look everyone will say ronaldo or messi deserve it. But take a look on other players. For me Arjen Robben maybe isn't the best but he deserve to have one ballon dor. He win everything with bayern last year and frank ribery was best rated than he. I don't understand why this player is so under-rated.
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Milaneli 9 years ago
Well its a tough one. Messi got into World Cup finals, Ronaldo won every tittle with Real Madrid last season that could have been won. I am guessing that they will be main contenders. Rest of the players are just there to fill up the list lol. I expect CR to win this, Messi's form was up n down last season, Ronaldo played...
Well its a tough one. Messi got into World Cup finals, Ronaldo won every tittle with Real Madrid last season that could have been won. I am guessing that they will be main contenders. Rest of the players are just there to fill up the list lol. I expect CR to win this, Messi's form was up n down last season, Ronaldo played great whole season long.
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madzgos 9 years ago
For me, this is ridiculous competition, what is purpose of this? Only correct award is the golden ball, or golden glove... Because that's awards his for the effect. Number of goals for example. Ballon d'or is awarded from football coach and captains. It is subjectively. Every year Messi or Ronaldo, although they were not...
For me, this is ridiculous competition, what is purpose of this? Only correct award is the golden ball, or golden glove... Because that's awards his for the effect. Number of goals for example. Ballon d'or is awarded from football coach and captains. It is subjectively. Every year Messi or Ronaldo, although they were not best this season.
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John Andrew 9 years ago
Every year, shortlist for ballon d'or is same. Although, that is all right, because that's award is for the best player on the world, and these players are the best definitely. Like a last year, I think Cristiano Ronaldo will get this award. But, for me, early criterion was different for this award. 2006. Cannavaro get...
Every year, shortlist for ballon d'or is same. Although, that is all right, because that's award is for the best player on the world, and these players are the best definitely. Like a last year, I think Cristiano Ronaldo will get this award. But, for me, early criterion was different for this award. 2006. Cannavaro get this because he won World cup...
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