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Wales winger Gareth Bale joins Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among the leading contenders for FIFA's Ballon d'Or award.

The 23-man shortlist for the prestigious world player of the year award was announced early on Tuesday morning, with the winner - voted for by coaches, captains and journalists - to be unveiled on 13 January in Zurich.
Wales winger Gareth Bale joins Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among the leading contenders for FIFA's Ballon d'Or award.

The 23-man shortlist for the prestigious world player of the year award was announced early on Tuesday morning, with the winner - voted for by coaches, captains and journalists - to be unveiled on 13 January in Zurich.

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 team-mate 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.

Franck Ribery, who was named UEFA's best player in Europe for the 2012-13 season after helping Bayern Munich win the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup, is another prominent name on the shortlist.

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.

Paris St Germain 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.
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 team-mate 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.

Franck Ribery, who was named UEFA's best player in Europe for the 2012-13 season after helping Bayern Munich win the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup, is another prominent name on the shortlist.

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.

Paris St Germain 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.

I don't know what happened with this post. Sorry everyone.

It hurts my eyes!!!

It should go to Phillip Lahm, the man behind most of Bayern Munich's successful moves.

Top 3 will probably be Ronaldo, Bale and Messi. Reckon it could be Cristianos year.

Franck Ribery is all over it I tell ya

My vote is for Ribery.

Ronaldo will get the sympathy vote this year, especially after what Sepp said about him the other day

Is this the award where the players are judged from jan-dec? If so, why is rvp on the list?? He was very good the previous 'year' but tailed off in 2013.

There needs to be a seperate high profile award for keepers, defenders, midfielders & forwards. More often than not, the nominations are dominated by forwards. Who can possibly say (for example) whether Bale is better than Cassilas or Pique or Toure when they all have completely different roles?

(I'm sure this year will be Messi again - in previous years he was won almost double the votes of Ronaldo). Maybe I'm slightly biased but Suarez is more deserving than both in terms of contribution, impact and relative of the players alongside him. Apparently he's 'controversial' though.

To be honest there is only 1 player who should even be considered for this award, but with the award being such a farce anyway, he probably won't even get a look in.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has won trophies with every club he has played for and in terms of contribution has far exceeded Messi. He has been immense for PSG over the past 2 years and is deserving of the award. Of course it will be Ronaldo,Mesii or Ribery that wins though, due to their marketing value.

even Suarez is more deserving than Messi based on their influence and contribution over the past year or so.