Messi, Iniesta, Ronaldo Up for Top FIFA Honor
Fitzgerald Cecilio
Sao Paolo, Brazil
Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo form the final three-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award.
Three-time winner Lionel Messi is in line to land the top prize for the fourth successive year after a prolific 12 months.
Messi's FC Barcelona team-mate and Spanish international midfielder Andrés Iniesta won the Best Player of the Tournament prize at UEFA EURO 2012 before picking up the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award in August.
Ronaldo's goals inspired Real Madrid CF to the 2011/12 Liga title and his performances at UEFA EURO 2012 were a key factor in Portugal reaching the semi-finals.
Candidates for FIFA Women's World Player 2012 are Brazil's Marta, who lifted the Swedish title with Tyresö FF, and United States duo Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach.
Spain's Euro coach Vicente del Bosque, Madrid coach José Mourinho and former Barcelona boss Josep Guardiola are the contenders for FIFA World Coach of the Year award.
Bruno Bini, Norio Saski and Pia Sundhage will compete for FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women's Football.
Noinated for the FIFA Puskás prize for most beautiful goal of the year were Club Atlético de Madrid forward Falcao's strike in a friendly against América de Cali, Neymar's effort for Santos FC against SC Internacional in the Copa Libertadores, and midfielder Miroslav Stoch's goal for Fenerbahçe SK's Slovakia against
Gençlerbirligi SK.
The winners will be announced in January.
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