Messi v Ronaldo v Ribery: Three-man shortlist for Ballon d'Or as Barca star chases fifth straight prize with competition from Real and Bayern aces

Ballon d'Or : FIFA have confirmed a three-man shortlist of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribery for the 2013 Ballon d’Or. Holder Messi has lifted the last four prizes but it is Ronaldo who is the bookies’ odds-on favourite to triumph this time around.
The Real Madrid forward has netted 32 times already this season for club and country and, with Barcelona’s Messi currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, the momentum appears to be with the Portuguese. Indeed, his hat-trick for his country during last month’s 3-2 World Cup play-off victory over Sweden has strengthened calls for him to be crowned this year’s victor.

Ribery, Champions League winner with Bayern Munich, is the outsider of the trio having been favourite until Ronaldo’s heroics against Sweden and FIFA’s subsequent announcement that voting for the award was still open.

The winner will be revealed at the Ballon d'or award ceremony in Zurich on January 13. 

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