Lionel Messi, Xavi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been shortlisted for the 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or, Fifa and France Football have announced.
Messi – who won the inaugural award last year after Fifa's world player of the year crown and France Football's Ballon d'Or prize merged – is once again the favorite after another stunning season at Barcelona in which he scored 53 goals. The forward was Barc's top scorer as Pep Guardiola's side retained the Spanish title and reclaimed the Champions League trophy with a comprehensive defeat of Manchester United.
Xavi was the architect of many of Messi's goals as the veteran maintained his position as arguably the finest midfielder in world football, while Ronaldo also scored 53 times for Real Madrid as they finished runners-up in Spain and lost out to Barca in the Champions League semi-finals.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Zurich in January next year, The Guardian reported.
