FIFA – France Football has announced the final three candidates for the 2014 Ballon d’Or !

• Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina)
• Manuel Neuer (Germany)

In fact, the winner will be assured to be hammered with debate & controversy. FIFA President Blatter & UEFA President have already publicly said that they feel a German (a World Cup Winner) should be given the prize this year, obviously citing Neuer. But if the criteria is the “Best Player” for a whole session – 2014 – then Cristiano Ronaldo is on another level to both Neuer & Messi.
In 2010 Spain won the World Cup, & with the current arguments of Blatter & Platini, the winner then should have been Andres Iniesta (or Iker Casillas). It was Messi which was indeed very surprising to everyone at that time & caused plenty of debate.

As Franck Ribery said recently, the Golden Ball Award has become more political award full of economic interests which sways the vote & points to the eventual winner.

In any case, the official winning name will be handed in & announced the 12th of January 2015.