Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo along with Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Neymar are on the shortlist for the 2015 Ballon d’Or award as a winner will be announced during a ceremony on January 11.
The annual event, which crowns the world’s best footballer over the course of the previous 12 months, will also be awarding other top players, coaches, media and team officials from around the globe.
Let our football writers break down each contender and make a case for why each should win:
Ian Hawkey: Neymar's emphasis on the Barcelona collective sets him apart for Ballon d'Or award
“There will always be some flashiness in Neymar’s football because one of his fortes is mastering the one on one then dribbling past a marker, and finding inventive ways of doing so. But the superfluous, showy provocations are rarer than they used to be.”
Andy Mitten: Xavi says Barcelona's Lionel Messi is 'greatest player ever' and deserves Ballon d'Or award
“Messi made the difference in the biggest games against the biggest teams, scoring sublime goals as Barca eliminated the champions of the Netherlands, England, France, Germany and Italy on the way to winning a fourth Uefa Champions League in a decade.”
Richard Jolly: Cristiano Ronaldo, rewriting history for Real Madrid, deserves Ballon d'Or over Barcelona rivals
“Madrid are more reliant on Ronaldo. He may be selfish and single-minded, but in his egotistical way, he realises he represents their best hope. He has spent six-and-a-half seasons trying to combat perhaps the finest club team ever in the only way he knows how, by amassing vast numbers of goals.”
Online poll: Lionel Messi, Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo – who will win 2015 Ballon d'Or award?
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
