Ballon d'Or: Final Three announced

The list of the final three candidates in the different categories of the second edition of the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards were released yesterday. For the award FIFA had joined hands with France Football last year after the Ballon d'Or award was earlier handed our by the French magazine, while FIFA had their own World Player of the Year award. Now these two have been merged into one and the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards will be handed out on January 9, 2012 in Zurich.

Argentinian Lionel Messi, the winner in the last couple of editions, along with Barcelona team mate Xavi Hernandez and Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid have made the final three.

Amongst the coaches who made the final three are Barca coach Pep Guardiola, his Real Madrid rival José Mourinho and seasoned Scotsman Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United.

National coaches and captains from around the world plus selected journalists can vote for their top candidates.


The following three men (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2011

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Xavi Hernandez (Spain/FC Barcelona)


The following three coaches (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men's Football 2011

Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Barcelona), José Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid)


The following three women (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA Women's World Player 2011

Marta (Brazil), Homare Sawa (Japan), Abby Wambach (USA)


The following three coaches (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women's Football 2011

Bruno Bini (France), Norio Sasaki (Japan), Pia Sundhage (Sweden/Team USA)

Ferenc Puskas Goal of the Year

Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Neymar (Brazil/FC Santos), Wayne Rooney (England/Manchester United)