La Liga trio nominated for FIFA Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi have split the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or award between them each year since 2008, but Brazil’s Neymar, who receives a first nomination, hopes to spoil their party

Lionel Messi

Neymar

Cristiano Ronaldo

ARG

BRA

POR

Age:

28

Debut:

2004

Age:

23

Debut:

2009

Age:

30

Debut:

2002

Club:

Position:

Barcelona

Club:

Position:

Barcelona

Club:

Position:

Real Madrid

Forward

Forward

Forward

Dominated from 2009

to 2012 but has lost out

to Cristiano Ronaldo

for last two years

Would be fifth Brazilian

to win award, after

Ronaldo, Rivaldo,

Ronaldinho and Kaka

Aiming to claim third

successive award –

took 38% of vote in

2014, eclipsing Messi

2015:

Reached final

2015:

Won Champions

2015:

Scored 500th

of Copa America with

Argentina – scored 48

goals to date, despite

injury concerns

League and La Liga with

Barcelona. Superb form

this season – top scorer

in Spain with 14 goals

career goal. Became

all-time top scorer for

Real Madrid, surpassing

club legend Raul

Source: FIFA

Picture: Getty Images

© GRAPHIC NEWS

La Liga trio nominated for FIFA Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi have split the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or award between them each year since 2008, but Brazil’s Neymar, who receives a first nomination, hopes to spoil their party

Lionel Messi

Argentina

Age:

28

Debut:

2004

Club:

Position:

Barcelona

Forward

Dominated from 2009 to 2012 but

has lost out to Cristiano Ronaldo

for last two years

2015:

Reached final of Copa

America with Argentina, losing to

host nation Chile – scored 48 goals

to date, despite injury concerns

Neymar

Brazil

Age:

23

Debut:

2009

Club:

Position:

Barcelona

Forward

Would be fifth Brazilian to win

award, after Ronaldo, Rivaldo,

Ronaldinho and Kaka

2015:

Won Champions League

and La Liga with Barcelona.

Superb form this season – top

goalscorer in Spain with 14 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal

Age:

30

Debut:

2002

Club:

Position:

Real Madrid

Forward

Aiming to claim third successive

award – took 38% of vote in 2014,

eclipsing rival Messi

2015:

Scored 500th career goal.

Became all-time top scorer for

Real Madrid, surpassing

club legend Raul

Sources: FIFA

Pictures: Getty Images

© GRAPHIC NEWS

La Liga trio nominated for FIFA Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi have split the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or award between them each year since 2008, but Brazil’s Neymar, who receives a first nomination, hopes to spoil their party

Lionel Messi

Argentina

Age:

28

Debut:

2004

Club:

Position:

Barcelona

Forward

Dominated from 2009 to 2012 but

has lost out to Cristiano Ronaldo

for last two years

2015:

Reached final of Copa

America with Argentina, losing to

host nation Chile – scored 48 goals

to date, despite injury concerns

Neymar

Brazil

Age:

23

Debut:

2009

Club:

Position:

Barcelona

Forward

Would be fifth Brazilian to win

award, after Ronaldo, Rivaldo,

Ronaldinho and Kaka

2015:

Won Champions League

and La Liga with Barcelona.

Superb form this season – top

goalscorer in Spain with 14 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal

Age:

30

Debut:

2002

Club:

Position:

Real Madrid

Forward

Aiming to claim third successive

award – took 38% of vote in 2014,

eclipsing rival Messi

2015:

Scored 500th career goal.

Became all-time top scorer for

Real Madrid, surpassing

club legend Raul

Source: FIFA

Pictures: Getty Images

© GRAPHIC NEWS