Real Madrid’s Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Messi, Iniesta up for FIFA award

AP, Thursday 29 Nov 2012

FIFA revealed the finalists for FIFA's world player of the year award.

Messi and Ronaldo
FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, right, and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal (Photo: AP)

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta are the finalists for FIFA's world player of the year award.

They were picked from a list of 23 candidates for this year's Ballon d'Or, with Messi looking to become the first player to win the award four times. The Argentina and Barcelona playmaker won the award last three years.

The winner will be announced in Switzerland on Jan. 7.

The finalists for the women's world player award are five-time winner Marta and United States duo Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque, former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho were in the running for the world coach of the year award.

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