Neuer, Messi, Ronaldo make Ballon d’Or cut

Bayern Munich and Germany goal-keeper Manuel Neuer
made the final three candidates for the FIFA Ballon
D’Or award, joining former winners Cristiano Ronaldo
and Lionel Messi on the shortlist.
Argentina and Barcelona forward Messi, winner on four
occasions, made the shortlist for the eighth time in a row
and Portugal’s Ronaldo, last year’s winner, for the fourth
time running.
Germany coach Joachim Loew, Real Madrid’s Carlo
Ancelotti and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone were
selected for the Coach of the Year award.
American forward Abby Wambach is among the finalists
for FIFA Women’s Player of the Year.
Wambach, the 2012 winner, is competing with Brazilian
forward Marta, a five-time winner, and German
midfielder Nadine Kessler.
The ceremony will take place in Zurich on January 12.
The FIFA world player of the year award was
founded in 1991 and merged with France Football’s
Ballon D’Or in 2010.
Neuer helped Germany win this year’s World Cup and
often doubled up as a sweeper, rushing out of his penalty
area to intercept opponents’ attacks.
He is the first goal-keeper to make the final three since
compatriot Oliver Kahn was included on the shortlist in
2002.
Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon was nominated for the old
France Football award in 2006, although at the time that
was restricted only to players based with European clubs.