December 10 – The usual suspects have again lined up to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award as the world’s best player – but there is no place in the final shortlist for the world’s most expensive player, Gareth Bale.
Leo Messi, Christiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribèry as expected are the final three candidates, with the winner to be announced at the traditional awards gala in Zurich on January 13.
After losing out to Messi for the last four years, Real Madrid’s Ronaldo is being hotly tipped to depose his Barcelona rival after a magnificent year for club and country, culminating in almost single-handedly steering Portugal past Sweden in the World Cup playoffs.
The women’s award will be contested by Nadine Angerer (Germany), Marta (Brazil) and Abby Wambach (United States).
The candidates for World Coach of the Year have also been announced with the now retired Sir Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United) fighting it out with Jupp Heynckes (Germany/ Bayern München) and Jürgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund).
The final shortlists were drawn up after votes from captains and head coaches of the men’s and women’s national teams of FIFA’s 209 member associations as well as selected international media representatives.
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