FIFA Ballon d'Or Winner and other Candidates

CRISTIANO RONALDO
Portugal
For the second time in a row and third time overall, Portugal and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned as the best player on the planet after an incredible season that included the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup for Real Madrid.

Cristiano became the first Portuguese player to achieve the biggest award 3 times in his career, beating fellow nominees Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer to this year’s award. Cristiano’s brilliant 2014 included 31 goals in 30 matches in Spain's La Liga - a haul that saw him finish as the 2013/14 top scorer - as well as a record 17 goals in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League campaign.

Lionel MESSI
Argentina
Despite the fitness problems that hampered his start to the season, Lionel Messi still managed to end the 2013/14 Spanish La Liga campaign as its second-highest scorer with 28 goals, though his contribution was not enough to secure Barcelona the title. The 26-year-old star made up for that disappointment and his club’s exit in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals by guiding Argentina to the Final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, where he scored four goals and collected the adidas Golden Ball. Fresh from that achievement, the four-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner is now gunning for the Spanish league’s all-time goalscoring record.

Manuel NEUER
Germany
Manuel Neuer has been the undisputed No1 in goal both for reigning world champions Germany and record German titleholders Bayern Munich for several years now. He made numerous magnificent saves at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ to play a key role in his side’s title success and was deservedly awarded the adidas Golden Glove as the tournament’s best goalkeeper. Neuer also added two further medals to his collection in 2014 after winning the league and DFB Cup double with Bayern. It is not only his breathtaking reflexes on the line that help Neuer to stand out, but also his talent on the ball and ability to participate in team moves.