Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi for top FIFA award

Lionel Messi is on course for a record-equalling third consecutive Ballon dOr, soccers highest individual award, after the Argentine forward was named on a three-man shortlist on Monday.Messis Barcelona team mate Xavi and Real Madrids Cristiano Ronaldo were also shortlisted with clubs from Spains La Liga providing the top three for the third year in a row.Messi, who won the Ballon dOr in 2009 and 2010, will be the favourite to complete a hat-trick of titles after his man-of-the-match performance helped the Spanish side beat Manchester United in the Champions League final in May.Portuguese forward Ronaldo won the Ballon dOr in 2008 while Xavi has finished third in the last two editions.Former France international and current UEFA President Michel Platini won the Ballon dOr for three consecutive years from 1983.Last year, the FIFA Player of the Year and the Ballon dOr awards merged into the FIFA Ballon dOr and votes now come from the coaches and captains of international teams as well as from journalists.The winner will be announced on January 9 in Zurich with 1987 Ballon dOr winner Ruud Gullit of Netherlands presiding over the ceremony.FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said the ceremony is likely to be the last in Switzerland for a while.We will take the Ballon dOr out of Zurich. It could be Paris, Barcelona, Madrid or other European cities, but it will stay in Europe, he told reporters at the headquarters of France Football magazine, who co-organise the event.Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, Barcelonas Pep Guardiola and Real Madrids Jose Mourinho were shortlisted for the Coach of the Year award.Brazils Marta will be looking for a sixth consecutive Womens Player of the Year award but faces competition from Japans Homare Sawa and American Abby Wambach.
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