FIFA’s Ballon d’Or award has ever been a hot commodity among players coz of genuineness and pride associated with it. Who will take it home this year is again the question being asked by everyone and guess what FIFA also revealed probable names today. The list contains 23 top contenders of contemporary soccer, including Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Bale, Iniesta, and Liverpool’s headliner Luis Suarez, among others. Among all, Real’s steepest stone Gareth Bale is the man to look for coz he just broke the record and became the priciest soccer player on this planet breaking Ronaldo’s record. The winner will be chosen by all the notables of the game including coaches, captains, and sports journalists on January 13. Bale, who now plays for Real Madrid, has scored 26 goals for his former club Spurs hence found a place in the knock out list and similarly others could also have evident success last year to be in the list.
The bigger question this year is who will be the winner, coz unlike last few years, competition is very tough this year thanks to some highly noteworthy names, like an obvious name Messi, and Real’s firing duo Ronaldo and Bale along with United’s Robin van Persie, and not to forget Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery who has already won UEFA best player for 2012-13.
Apart from players of year, there is another award: Coach of the year and probable for the same were also announced. In this category, United’s former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Chelsea returning boss Jose Mourinho are the favorite. Apart from them, there are other firing names into it. Let’s see who eventually won these prestigious awards.
Complete list of shortlisted Players (Alphabetically):
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus/Italy), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich/Netherlands), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich/Germany), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal), Eden Hazard (Chelsea/Belgium), Edinson Cavani (Paris St Germain/Uruguay), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/France), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina), Luis Suarez (Liverpool/Uruguay), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich/Germany), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/Germany), Neymar (Barcelona/Brazil), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich/Germany), Radamel Falcao (Monaco/Colombia), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund/Poland), Robin van Persie (Manchester United/Netherlands), Thiago Silva (Paris St Germain/Brazil), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich/Germany), Xavi (Barcelona/Spain)., Yaya Toure (Manchester City/Ivory Coast), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St Germain/Sweden),Gareth Bale (Real Madrid/Wales).
Complete list of shortlisted Coaches (Alphabetically):
Antonio Conte (Juventus), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).,Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid/ex-Paris St Germain), Jose Mourinho (Chelsea/ex-Real Madrid), Jupp Heynckes (ex-Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund), Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil), Rafael Benitez (Napoli/ex-Chelsea), Sir Alex Ferguson (ex-Manchester United), Vicente Del Bosque (Spain)