FIFA Ballon d'or ceremony kicks off at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, as the world will discover who has officially been the greatest player on the planet in the last 12 months.
FIFA Ballon d'or award: Cristiano Ronaldo
FIFA Women's World player of the year: Nadine Kessler
FIFA Puskas award: James Rodriguez
FIFA Fair Play Award: The winners are the volunteers from FIFA tournaments
FIFA World coach of the year for Men's team: Joachim Low
FIFA coach of the year for women's team: Ralf Kellermann
FIFA Presidential Award: Japanese journalist Hiroshi Kagawa
19:48 The FIFA world best team (FIFA FIFPRO WORLD XI):
Goalkeeper: Neuer
Defenders: Philipp Lahm, David Luiz, Sergio Ramos and Tiaggo Silva
Midfielders: Andres Iniesta, Toni Kroos and Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Ronaldo, Messi and Arjen Robben
First row from left: Manuel Neuer, Sergio Ramos, Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos and Andres Iniesta; back row from left: Arjen Robben, Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo pose with the trophy after winning the FIFA FIFPro WORLD XI Award of the year 2014 at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awarding ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, Monday, Jan. 12, 2015 (Photo: AP)
19:45 The best three forwards Ronaldo, Messi and Arjen Robben
19:43 The best three midfielders are Andres Iniesta, Toni Kroos and Angel Di Maria
19:40 The Best four defenders are Philipp Lahm, David Luiz, Sergio Ramos and Thiago Silva
19:38 Germany's Neuer wins the best goalkeeper award
19:33 Ronaldo, Nadine Kessler, Marta, Messi, Abby Wambach and Neuer take the stage to the applause of the Gala crowd. They are the finalists for the FIFA Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year awards
19:22 FIFA President Blatter delivers a speech in French, paying tribute to the origins of the Ballon d'Or, with its roots in France. He offers solidarity after recent events that have shocked the world in the country
19:15 FIFA President Blatter arrives to the stage
18:45 An incredible noise on the red carpet as Messi and Ronaldo arrive. The two Ballon d'Or finalists make their way into the hall for the ceremony
18:30 Five-time Women's World Player of the Year winner Martais the latest from the galaxy of stars to arrive
18:30 Alessandro Del Piero, Diego Simone and Angel Di Maria are all in a row on the red carpet now, signing autographs for the screaming fans
18:25 Ronaldo says : I'm happy at Real Madrid, but only God knows the future
18:20 I'd like to play with Messi and Neuer, says Ronaldo
18:15 I don't know where I'll be next year, says Messi
18:10 Stars begin to arrive as Marta and Clarence Seedorf have already been spotted on the red carpet leading into the Kongresshaus in Zurich
Bayern Munich's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer of Germany, Barcelona's Lionel Messi of Argentina and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal (L-R) nominees for the 2014 FIFA World Player of the Year, pose after a news conference prior to the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony in Zurich January 12, 2015 (Photo: Reuters)
18:00 Fans are braving the cold to see their heroes on the red carpet from 18.00
Ceremony Schedule (All times Cairo local time, GMT+2)
- Press conferences with the nominees will be held at 14.30 - 17.30
- The Red Carpet Show, the Stars arrive at 18.00 – 19.15
- The FIFA Ballon d'Or 2014 Gala Ceremony begins at 19:30
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or for the second year in succession at Monday's gala ceremony in Zurich ahead of Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer and Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
The 29-year-old Real Madrid superstar, Ronaldo scored a remarkable 61 goals in the calendar year as he helped his club win the Champions League, Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup before ending 2014 by securing the Club World Cup.
Bayern Munich's Neuer, the only one of six German World Cup winners on the initial shortlist to make the final three, makes a good case to become the first goalkeeper to take the prize since Lev Yashin of the Soviet Union in 1963, and the first German since Lothar Matthaeus in 1990, the year West Germany lifted the World Cup in Italy.
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