Ballon D'Or 2015 Shortlist

FIFA revealed its shortlist for the 2015 Ballon d'Or with clear favourites, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi leading the pack of 23 players who were nominated for the prestigious award.

Ronaldo leads a contingent of Real Madrid players which include his trio completing the famous BBC, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Midfield maestros James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos. Messi on the other hand leads his own devastating gang which includes Luiz Suarez and Neymar to complete the famous MSN formidable squad who are firing on all cylinders, not forgetting Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta and Javier Mascherano who is the only defender to be shortlisted, other nominees include the trio from blue side of Manchester, Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Yaya Toure were not left out as they were joined by are Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez who were the only 5 players from England to be shortlisted for the award. Ballon d'Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who have won the past seven awards between them and no other nominees in the list has won it. Only Iniesta came close as 2nd and 3rd in the year 2010 and 2011 respectively. Some surprising names on the list include QPR's Massimo Luongo and Bournemouth's Christian Atsu.

Midfielders and Forwards dominated the list, with one defender and goal keeper each. Spain's La Liga leads the way, with 11 players nominated, while Germany's Bundesliga has six nominees. There are two from Italy's Serie A and one - Paris St-Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic- from France's Ligue 1. Players who have transferred during the past year are recognized for their contribution to both clubs.

Here's the comprehensive Fifa Ballon d'Or shortlist:

1. Sergio Aguero (Argentina/Manchester City),

2. Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid),

3. Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid),

4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid),

5. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/VfL Wolfsburg/Manchester City),

6. Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea),

7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/ Paris Saint-Germain),

8. Andres Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona),

9. Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid),

10.Robert Lewandowski (Poland/FC Bayern Munich),

11. Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona),

12. Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona),

13.Thomas Muller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich),

14. Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich),

15. Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona),

16. Paul Pogba (France/Juventus),

17. Ivan Rakitic (Croatia/FC Barcelona),

18. Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich),

19. James Rodriguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), 20. Alexis Sanchez (Chile/Arsenal),

21. Luis Suarez (Uruguay/ FC Barcelona),

22. Yaya Toure (Côte d'Ivoire/ Manchester City),

23. Arturo Vidal (Chile/Juventus/ FC Bayern Munich).

There are a couple of familiar names on the Coach of the Year shortlist too, with Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho both making the cut.

Other names include Carlo Ancelotti, Diego Simeone and of course, Pep Guardiola. Fifa World Coach of the Year for Men's Football shortlist:

1. Massimiliano Allegri (Italy/Juventus),

2. Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Real Madrid),

3. Laurent Blanc (France/Paris Saint-Germain),

4. Unai Emery (Spain/Sevilla FC),

5. Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Bayern Munich),

6. Luis Enrique (Spain/FC Barcelona),

7. Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Chelsea),

8. Jorge Sampaoli (Argentina/Chilean national team),

9. Diego Simeone (Argentina/Atletico Madrid),

10. Arsene Wenger (France/Arsenal).

Well I already know who's winning the ballon d'or, I just want to be sure who's coming third? You got any idea? Let's hear from you.

Adekunle Adewale (@hrhmayowa)