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Messi

Three candidates for the Ballon d’Or winner of the FIFA 2011 has been officially announced. Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Xavi will compete with the star Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid won the title of world’s best players. All three nominees have been shortlisted from a list of candidates consisting of 23 persons. Messi won the award last year by beating Xavi and Andres Iniesta who this time did not make the big three.

Messi again a favorite to steal this award for the third time. Argentine footballer that displays brilliant performance in last season where he scored 53 goals in all competitions. While Xavi become creators of goals as his team’s co. Spanish midfielder is proving itself as one of the best midfielders in the world. The combination of Messi and Xavi took Barca managed to retain the La Liga title and Champions League. Ronaldo’s performance also is no less severe with the two rival it. Although only able to present the Copa del Rey title, the owner of the nickname CR7 was successfully struck 53 goals last season.

Special for Messi, he managed again to win this award in order to he became the third person who successfully won three awards of the world’s best players after Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Luis Nazario da Lima. While the world’s best trainer award will be contested by Josep Guardiola (Barcelona), Jose Mourinho (Real Madrid) and Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United).

Messi likely picked up two awards after his goal against Arsenal managed to enter as candidates for the award or the prettiest goal Puskas Award along with Neymar and Wayne Rooney.

The best footballer category will be contested by daughter Marta (Brazil), Homare Sawa (Japan) and Abby Wambach (United States). While the daughter’s best coach award will be contested by Bruno Bini (France), Norio Sasaki (Japan) and Pia Sundhage (Sweden). The entire award will be given in FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala will be held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland on January 9, 2012.