Source: Daily Times NG
Ballon d'Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo and four-
time winner Lionel Messi are among 23 players
on FIFA's shortlist for this year's award
honouring the world's top player.
The list was compiled by the FIFA Football
Committee with the help of France Football. It
will later be trimmed to three finalists, with the
winner announced at a ceremony in January.
Messi won the award four straight years from
2009-2012, while Ronaldo won it in 2008 and
2013. The award was presented by solely by
France Football until 2009, and the news outlet
joined with FIFA's Player of the Year Award for
the 2010 edition.
The list features 17 players from Europe, five
from South America and one from Africa (Yaya
Toure). World cup champions Germany are the
most represented with six entries.
All of the candidates play their club football in
Europe, for only eight different clubs, with Real
Madrid and Bayern Munich tied for the most
with six each, followed by Barcelona with four.
Two goalkeepers were named to the shortlist:
Belgium's Thibaut Courtois and Germany's
Manuel Neuer.
The shortlist:
Gareth Bale, Wales, Real Madrid
Karim Benzema, France, Real Madrid
Diego Costa, Spain, Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois, Belgium, Chelsea
Angel Di Maria, Argentina, Manchester United
Mario Gotze, Germany, Bayern Munich
Eden Hazard, Belgium, Chelsea
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden, Paris Saint-
Germain
Andres Iniesta, Spain, Barcelona
Toni Kroos, Germany, Real Madrid
Philipp Lahm, Germany, Bayern Munich
Javier Mascherano, Argentina, Barcelona
Lionel Messi, Argentina, Barcelona
Thomas Muller, Germany, Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer, Germany, Bayern Munich
Neymar, Brazil, Barcelona
Paul Pogba, France, Juventus
Sergio Ramos, Spain, Real Madrid
Arjen Robben, Netherlands, Bayern Munich
James Rodriguez, Colombia, Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Real Madrid
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany, Bayern
Munich
Yaya Toure, Ivory Coast, Manchester City.
Na only Yaya Toure dey represent Africa.
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