Iniesta, Ronaldo and Messi on Ballon d'Or shortlist

Great rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are joined on a three-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award by Andres Iniesta.

 

 

 

The three stars were also shortlisted for UEFA's Best Player in Europe award, won by Barcelona and Spain midfielder Iniesta after his success in inspiring his country to win Euro 2012.
However, Barca team-mate Messi is favourite to secure the FIFA award and become the first man to be named the world's greatest player for four years in succession.
Messi has scored a remarkable 82 goals for club and country in 2012 - just three short of Gerd Mueller's all-time record - and though it was Ronaldo's Real Madrid who won the Spanish title, Messi scored a barely believable 50 goals in the 2011-12 league campaign.
The Argentina forward won both the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or in 2009 before then claiming the award in 2010 and 2011 when the two prizes were amalgamated.