Football: Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi vie for Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi were named final three-man shortlist for the 2011 Fifa Ballon d’Or award

PARIS: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi were named on the final three-man shortlist for the 2011 Fifa Ballon d’Or award, which will be presented at a ceremony in Zurich on January 9. Barcelona superstar Messi won the inaugural award – a combination of the France Football Ballon d’Or prize and Fifa’s World Player of the Year award – last year, having picked up both awards in 2009. Messi’s Barcelona teammate Xavi was also shortlisted for the 2010 prize and finished in third place, behind another Barca colleague, Andres Iniesta. Messi, 24, is a strong favourite to retain his prize after a year in which he inspired his club to a La Liga and Uefa Champions League double.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2011.