Ballon d'Or: Final Three across categories announced

The list of the final three candidates in the different categories of the third edition of the FIFA Ballon d’Or awards was announced yesterday at a press conference held at the Anhembi Convention Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It was attended by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, L’Equipe and France Football CEO François Morinière, and legendary Brazilian players Ronaldo and Marta, who won the FIFA World Player of the Year and FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year awards three and five times respectively.

For the award, FIFA had joined hands with France Football a couple of years back after the Ballon d’Or award was earlier handed out by the French magazine, while FIFA had their own World Player of the Year award. Now these two have been merged into one and the FIFA Ballon d’Or awards will be handed out on January 7, 2012 at the Kongresshaus in Zurich.

Argentinian Lionel Messi, the winner in the last three editions, along with Barcelona team mate Andres Iniesta and Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid have made the final three.

Amongst the coaches who made the final three are Barca coach Pep Guardiola, his Real Madrid rival José Mourinho and Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.

National coaches and captains from around the world plus selected journalists can vote for their favourite candidates.

The following three men (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2012

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona)

The following three coaches (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football 2012

Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Barcelona), José Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid)

The following three women (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA Women’s World Player 2011

Marta (Brazil), Alex Morgan (USA), Abby Wambach (USA)

The following three coaches (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football 2012

Bruno Bini (France), Norio Sasaki (Japan), Pia Sundhage (Sweden/Team USA)

Ferenc Puskas Goal of the Year

Radamel Falcao (Colombia/Atletico Madrid), Neymar (Brazil/FC Santos), Miroslav Stoch (Slovakia/Fenerbahçe Istanbul)