Neymar made the three-man Ballon D’Or shortlist for the first time on Monday, alongside Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi and title holder Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 30-year-old Ronaldo has won two consecutive world player of the year titles since ending Messi’s four-year winning streak and is nominated despite failing to win any trophies with Real Madrid in 2015.
The 23-year-old Neymar, though, won a treble with Messi at Barcelona, ensuring he became the first Brazilian finalist since 2007 winner Kaka.
Photo: AFP
Neymar has 41 goals across the calendar year for Barcelona — three fewer than the 28-year-old Messi — but one blot is the four-match ban from Brazil games imposed at the Copa America following a red card.
The winner is announced at a FIFA gala in Zurich on Jan. 11, when a series of other awards are handed out.
Chile’s Jorge Sampaoli is a finalist for men’s coach of the year after winning the Copa America title. Barcelona’s Luis Enrique, who led his team to the Champions League title, also is a finalist along with Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola.
US forward Carli Lloyd is among the finalists for FIFA’s women’s award after scoring a hat-trick that led the US to victory over Japan in the World Cup final. Japan’s Aya Miyama and Germany’s Celia Sasic are the other finalists.
Jill Ellis of the US is a finalist for women’s team coach award, along with Mark Sampson, who led England to third place, and Norio Sasak of Japan.
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