Ribery, Messi, Ronaldo on Ballon d’Or shortlist

Ronaldo

Lionel Messi, Franck Ribery, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Neymar are among 23 candidates on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or announced by FIFA on Tuesday.

Ribery, who won UEFA’s best player in Europe award for the 2012-13 season, helped Bayern Munich win the  UEFA Champions League and Bundesliga and German Cup titles.

Messi, winner of the last four Ballon d’Or awards in voting by coaches, team captains and media, was injured late in the season and could not prevent Barcelona from being beaten by Bayern in the Champions League semifinals.

The Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on January 13 in Zurich.

According to Skysports, Bale became the world’s most expensive player when he joined Real Madrid from Tottenham for 100m euros (£85.3m) in September after a 26-goal haul for Spurs.

But he faces tough competition for the prize from his Madrid teammate Ronaldo – winner in 2008 – and Barcelona forward Messi, who has won the award for the last four years.

Five Premier League players – Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, controversial Liverpool frontman Luis Suarez, Chelsea winger Eden Hazard and Arsenal’s recent addition Mesut Ozil – make the cut – but there are no English players included.

Ribery is joined by club-mates Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger while Barcelona also have Xavi, Andres Iniesta and summer signing Neymar among the candidates.

PSG  trio Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva have made the shortlist while fellow Ligue 1 big-spenders Monaco have a contender of their own in Radamel Falcao, acquired from Atletico Madrid in the close season.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired at the end of last season, headlines a 10-man coach of the year shortlist along with Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Spain boss Vicente del Bosque.