Real Madrid has been second best to Barcelona this
season and the Spanish champions scored another minor victory over their rivals
Monday as the FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist was announced.
After trouncing Real 4-0 in the recent El
Clasico, Barca has two representatives in the running to be crowned the
2015 world footballer of the year, strikers Lionel Messi and Neymar, from
Argentina and Brazil respectively.
Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo -- winner of the
last two awards -- is the other contender on the three-man list.
The Portuguese forward and Messi have accounted
for the last seven FIFA Ballon d'Or titles, Barcelona's talisman winning four
to Ronaldo's three.
But this is Neymar's first nomination for the top
prize after a glittering year. He is part of a formidable front line that also
includes Messi and Uruguayan Luis Suarez.
Barca's holy trinity were all on the mark Saturday as
the Catalan side swept aside Real Sociedad 4-0 at the Nou Camp.
The three helped fire the Catalan side to its 23rd
Spanish league title last season, scoring 81 goals between them, as well as
assisting 39.
In all competitions that goal tally rose to 122 --
a new Spanish record -- as Barca won the European Champions League as well as
the Spanish Cup.
The trio have already contributed 30 league goals
this season, despite a spell on the sidelines for Messi, as Barcelona opened up
a four point lead at the summit.
Though Real Madrid didn't win any silverware last
season, Ronaldo scored an incredible 48 goals in 35 league matches and 60 in
all competitions.
The Portuguese has pipped Messi to the previous
two awards, having finished runner-up to the Argentine three times.
FIFA will announce the winner at the Ballon d'Or
Gala in Zurich on January 11 along with four other awards.
The women's prize is between American Carli Lloyd,
who plays for Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League, Japan's Aya
Miyama of Okayama Yunogo Belle, and Celia Sasic who plays for Frankfurt in
Germany.
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is up for the men's
coach of the Year gong, having guided Barcelona to an historic treble last
season.
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola, who spent four
years at Barca, is nominated along with Argentinian Jorge Sampaoli, who led
Chile to its first ever Copa America title in 2015.
In the women's category, Jill Ellis is nominated
after guiding the USA to its third World Cup title in Canada. England's coach
Mark Sampson and Norio Sasaki, Japan coach, are also shortlisted.
FIFA also announced the contenders for the Puskás
Award that celebrates the most beautiful goal of the year.
Messi's mazy effort against Athletic Bilbao is
included as is Alessandro Florenzi's spectacular effort for AS Roma against
Barcelona, with Brazil striker Wendell Lira's acrobatic overhead kick for club
side Goianesia rounding off the list.
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