FIFA has finally announced the three finalist for the Golden Ball award this year.The three players were picked from a list of 23 candidates for this year.
As a very important aspect to mention, the three finalists play in the same league the Spanish "La Liga" . Messi and Iniesta play in FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo in Real Madrid FC. For three years in a row , three players from the same league are finalists for this award. The Spanish football is very strong since seven players from the Spanish National team made the 23 - name list for the award. Spain is strong not only in the clubs but also in the national team as FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said.
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If Messi wins the award, this will be his fourth Golden Ball in his career. Iniesta has the chance of winning the award for the first time and Cristiano Ronaldo the second time.
The finalists for the women's World Player 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 are running for the world coach of the year award.
The women's coach of the year award will go to either France's Bruno Bini, Japan's Norio Sasaki or The United States Pia Sundhage.
The Puskas award for the Best Goal of the year will be presented to Radamel Falcao, Neymar, or Miroslav Stoch.
The winner will be announced in Switzerland on Jan 7.
