Ronaldo, Messi head Ballon d’Or shortlist

            

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez head the shortlist for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or.

According to Soccernet, Real Madrid forward Ronaldo, who has won the award for the past two years, is joined by teammates Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez.

And Barcelona’s attacking triumvirate of Messi, who is a four-time winner, Neymar and Suarez are listed along with fellow Blaugrana stars Andres Iniesta, Javier Mascherano and Ivan Rakitic. With six, Barca have the most players nominated.

It means the two Spanish giants between them provide almost half the 23-man shortlist.

Bayern Munich also have five players – Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Arjen Robben and Arturo Vidal.

Five Premier League stars make the list, headed by Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez after he helped Chile to Copa America glory on home soil in the summer. PFA Players’ Player of the Year Eden Hazard is the only representative from Premier League champions Chelsea.

Manchester City have three players named: Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne. Wales and Real Madrid forward Bale is the only British player named.

Juventus’ midfielder Paul Pogba is the only player from Serie A – though Vidal played the first half of the year with Juve, with Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic completing the 23.

Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho are both on a 10-man shortlist for the coach of the year award, alongside Barcelona’s treble-winning coach Luis Enrique and Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola.