Ballon d'Or: Messi Better Placed To Reclaim Award

Lionel Messi has been widely tipped to win the award for the 5th time despite Cristiano Ronaldo being ahead of the Argentine in goals scored in 2015.

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is targeting an unprecedented fifth Ballon d'Or award in Zurich on Monday, with the Argentine heavily favoured to reclaim the prize from three-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Brazil striker Neymar, who plays alongside Messi at Barca, is also in the running to be crowned world player of the year after he was included on the three-man shortlist for the first time.

Ballon d'Or: FIFA Releases 59-Man List

The 59 players shortlisted for this year's Ballon d'Or have been named. The two top spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona have seven players each while Bayern follows with five players. Manchester City and Chelsea are also tied with four players each while the surprise inclusion is David Ospina from Arsenal.... what a surpise....

Kaka: I Am The Last Ballon d'Or Winner Born On This Planet

Kaka has praised Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by joking he was the last Ballon d'Or winner to be "born on this planet".

The Brazil international won the prize in 2007during his time with AC Milan ahead of Ronaldo and Messi – who have shared it in the seven years since.

Kaka, 33, said it was an honour to win an award as he paid tribute to what his successors have managed to do since.

Ronaldo Says He Doesn't Give A F*** About FIFA

The Ballon d'Or holder was asked in a recent interview his view on the scandals engulfing world football's governing body and he made his feelings clear.

'I don't care about FIFA, Qatar, I don't give a f***,' he said, before adding, 'speak about FIFA, come on...', as he stood up and walked out of the interview.

Fourteen people - including seven current FIFA officials - were arrested in May in connection with and FBI investigation into fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

I Would Win The Ballon d'Or Three Times If Am Playing Now - Rivaldo

Hot, good, superb, great... words can't describe Rivaldo in his active days as a footballer, he had a good career with Barca and won the World Cup with Brazil. For people that watched him play he played like a great player. Rivaldo has said if he is till playing now he will win three Ballon d'Or..

Considering the level of Ronaldo & Messi we can argue that he didn't play up to that level. A few footballers got to that point, the likes of  Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo, Zidane....

Rivaldo has claimed he would win the Ballon d'Or three times if he was at his peak in the current era.
The Brazil great was crowned the world's best player in 1999, but Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have since won the award seven times between them in as many years.

Lionel Messi Back To Top Of The World

By Lionel Messi's exceptional standards 2014 was a year to forget. For the first time in six years he went trophyless at club level with Barcelona, while arguably his best ever chance to win a World Cup with Argentina came and went.

His listless performances particularly in the latter stages of the World Cup, despite being controversially named player of the tournament, led many to believe he could never return to the level that dazzled as he became the first man to win four consecutive World Player of the Year awards between 2008 and 2012.

Ballon d' Or: I Want To Catch Lionel Messi - Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has won his third Ballon d'Or. When he stepped up to receive his award, the first thing he did was mention his son, his mother and his family. CR7 then made it very clear he has no intention of stopping there. He already has his sights set on Messi.

Acknowledgements: "Thanks to everyone who voted for me, to my teammates, my coach, the president and everyone associated with Real Madrid. This is a dream come true for me. I'd also like to thank everyone who has helped make me a better player, my national team and everyone in Portugal".

Spanish Papers Back Ronaldo To Win Third Ballon d' Or

Unless something hugely remarkable happens, Cristiano Ronaldo will today win the Ballon d’Or in Zurich.The two famous Spanich papers AS & Marca have thrown their weights behind Ronaldo abandoning Messi. Ronaldo certainly had his best year as a footballer in 2014.

The front pages of both Marca and AS are tipping the Real Madrid superstar to walk home with the gold ahead of Bayern Munich goalie Manuel Neuer and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo, Messi Or Neuer? Who Will Win The Ballon d'Or Tonight?

The above photo shows the names of Lionel Messi, Manuel Neuer and Cristiano Ronaldo being inscribed on plaques at the revered Mellerio dits Meller jewellery house in Paris.

Tonight, around 300 miles away at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, one will be inscribed on another opulent ornament.

Ronaldo Is Great But Messi Is Unique - Ivan Rakitic

Ivan Rakitic feels that while Cristiano Ronaldo is "a great", Lionel Messi is a truly "unique" talent who stands head and shoulders above every other player on the planet. Ronaldo and Messi have been shortlisted for this year's Ballon d'Or along with Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Ronaldo has broken a succession of goalscoring records in helping Real Madrid win the Champions League, the Club World Cup and the Copa del Rey over the past 12 months, while Neuer won the double with Bayern Munich before playing a key role in his country's triumph at Brazil 2014.

Lukaku Can Be World's Best Player - Tim Howard

Romelu Lukaku wants to become the best player in the world, according to Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard. Lukaku scored his first goal of the Premier League season in a 2-0 victory against his former club West Brom on Saturday.

Much is expected of the 21-year-old after he sealed a permanent move to Goodison Park from Chelsea for a club-record fee of €35 million following a successful loan spell last season. And having also featured for a Belgium side which reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Brazil, Howard says Lukaku is intent on reaching the level of Ballon d'Or winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Angel di Maria Blasts Real Madrid President

Angel di Maria has hit back at Florentino Perez's claims that his Real Madrid exit was accelerated due to excessive wage demands. Real president Perez faced criticism in some quarters for allowing the Argentina international to join Premier League side Manchester United for a British-record fee of £59.7million last month.

Perez responded by claiming he took the decision because an agreement could not be reached with Di Maria, who he said wanted to be paid a similar salary to that of Real superstar, and Ballon d'Or holder, Cristiano Ronaldo.

I Want To Win The Ballon d' Or - Eden Hazard

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard sat down with Tubes for this weekend’s Soccer Am, and the presenter asked him about his designs on the Ballon D’Or. Powerful dream for Eden but its cool he admits he has some obstacles on is way to the crown. I just think he has to double his game and expect the likes of CR7 & Messi to drop form gradually.

Cristiano Ronaldo And The Ballon d'Or Curse

With a mediocre performance in Brazil and his team heading home much earlier than expected, Cristiano Ronaldo has become the fourth victim of the curse that takes away the holder of the Ballon d'Or's magic in the ensuing World Cup.

Others that have suffered the same fate are Luis Figo in 2002, Ronaldinho Gaucho in 2006 and Lionel Messi in 2010. These three superstars all played out their World Cup without scoring a single goal.

Rubbing salt into Ronaldo's wound is the fact that the Real Madrid star has no choice but to look on as his two great rivals, Barça players Messi and Neymar, bathe in the limelight and soak up the press camera flashes.

MARIO BALOTELI: World Cup Greater Than Champions League Or Ballon d'Or

Italy striker Mario Balotelli is determined to lead his nation to World Cup glory and feels that the title holds more importance than either the Champions League or the Ballon d'Or.

The Azzurri are looking to build on their excellent start to the tournament when they face Costa Rica on Friday, after Balotelli's goal gave them a 2-1 win over England in their opening fixture.

A win in Recife against the central Americans will see Italy through and the AC Milan striker is enjoying his nation's campaign for what he feels is the ultimate prize. He told the media: "I'm experiencing this tournament with a great piece of mind. I experience no pressure, nor anything of the sort.

Sergio Ramos Can Win Ballon d'Or Says Fabio Cannavaro

Former Italy and Real Madrid centre-back Fabio Cannavaro says a strong World Cup could secure Sergio Ramos the Ballon d’Or.

Ramos had an excellent campaign as his side claimed the Champions league, scoring a last-minute equaliser to take the Lisbon final against city rivals Atletico to extra-time after a colossal performance in the semi-final thrashing of Bayern Munich.

And the former Inter, Juventus and Real Madrid man believes Ramos can match his achievement in 2006, where he lifted the prize following the Azzurri's World Cup triumph.

Juventus` Paul Pogba Wants To Win Ballon d`Or

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has set his sights on becoming the world’s best player and says he wants to win the Ballon d’Or.

The 20-year-old is developing into an excellent midfielder and has become a key player for the Serie A champions since joining from Manchester United in 2012. The France international wants to continue the progress he has made throughout his time in Italy and says his main target is to win the sport's most prestigious individual award.

“I want to be the best and win the Ballon d’Or,” Pogba said at event for Bianconeri supporters. “To do it I will have to improve all facets of my game.

ROBBERY!!! Andres Iniesta Deserved 2010 Ballon d`Or Not Messi Says Luis Suarez

Former Barcelona player Luis Suarez believes Andres Iniesta deserved to win the 2010 Ballon d’Or more than eventual winner Lionel Messi.

The Argentine, who won the award four consecutive times, picked it up in 2010 ahead of Barca team-mates Iniesta and Xavi, despite the latter two lifting the World Cup with Spain that year as well as La Liga with the Catalan giants.

But Suarez, the only Spanish player to win the award, feels Xavi and Iniesta, who scored the winning goal in the World Cup final, should have been ahead of Messi in being crowned the world’s player of the year.

Michel Platini: Ronaldo & Messi Will Win The Ballon d` Or For The Next Ten Years

Uefa president Michel Platini says Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could win the Ballon d’Or for the next 10 years, but backed Neymar to eventually dethrone his Barcelona team-mate at Camp Nou.

The Frenchman believes that the current criteria for the award will mean that the Portuguese and Argentine will be the main contenders for the next 10 years.  In January, Platini voiced his discontent at Franck Ribery's failure to win the award after a treble-winning season at Bayern Munich, with the France international finishing in third place.

“Under the current criteria, we're heading for Messi, Cristiano, Messi, Cristiano... for 10 years,” said Platini, speaking to Le Journal du Dimanche.

HENRY: Ribery Should Have Won Ballon d'Or

Thierry Henry believes the good and the great of world football made the wrong call by not awarding the 2013 Fifa Ballon d'Or to his former France team-mate Franck Ribery.

Ribery won five trophies with Bayern Munich over the last calendar year, including the treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, yet found himself finishing third behind Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona star Lionel Messi in the voting at Fifa's Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich.

In an interview at a launch event for for the PUMA evoPOWER boot, Henry told Goal about the 30-year-old's sensational year and how he believes missing out on the Ballon d'Or will not impact on his performances in 2014.