Nominees for FIFA Ballon d'Or announced

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The finalists for the 2011 FIFA Ballon dOr have been announced...and it is a familiar trio who will be hoping to take home the top individual prize in world football.

Last year the FIFA Player of the Year and the Ballon dOr awards merged into the FIFA Ballon dOr, with international coaches and captains as well as journalists voting for the winner.

A cameraman films the FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy in Paris, on the sideline of a press
conference aiming at presenting this year's final contenders. Holder Lionel Messi,
Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi were on Monday named on the final three-man shortlist for
the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or award, which will be presented at a ceremony in Zurich on
January 9. (AFP Photo/Franck Fife)

Barcelonas Lionel Messi, who won the Ballon dOr in 2009 and 2010, will be the favourite to complete a hat-trick of titles after his man-of-the-match performance helped the Spanish side beat Manchester United in the Champions League final in May.

His rivals are Barcelona team mate Xavi and Real Madrid goal machine Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi and Ronaldo already have scor! ed 17 le ague goals this season - and will face off against each other in the clasico at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

The winner will be announced on Friday in Zurich with 1987 Ballon dOr winner Ruud Gullit of Netherlands presiding over the ceremony. Ballon dOr awards will also be handed out in the categories of Coach of the year, Womens Player of the Year, and Best Goal of the Year which will be chosen by internet voting.

This combo of recent file pictures shows Barcelona's midfielder Xavi Hernandez (L),
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (C) and Real Madrid's Portuguese forward
Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi, Ronaldo and Xavi were on Monday named on the final three-man
shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or award, which will be presented at a ceremony
in Zurich on January 9. (AFP Photo/Pierre-Philippe Marcou)

The FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy. Holder Lionel Messi, Cristiano
Ronaldo and Xavi were on Monday named on the final three-man
shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or award, which will be
presented at a ceremony in Zurich on January 9. (AFP P! hoto/
Franck Fife)

Editor:Zhang Dan |Source: CNTV.CN



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