Fifa 2013 Ballon d'Or shortlist - the run down of the 23 men nominated for the world player of the year award
A guide to who has been named on the shortlist for the prestigious award as well as the top ten managers
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Your support makes all the difference.The shortlist for the 2013 Fifa Ballon d’Or for both players and managers has been announced, with the undoubted talking point being the inclusion of current Real Madrid winger and the world’s most expensive player Gareth Bale.
Bale has featured sparingly since his move to Spain due to injury, but his form during the second-half of the season for Tottenham has seen him make the cut, having handed Spurs victory on a number of occasions.
But the current favourite is four-time consecutive winner and the holder of the world’s best player claim Lionel Messi, who could land his fifth Ballon d’Or crown when the winner is announced on January 8.
Franck Ribery and Cristiano Ronaldo are certainly in the mix too though, and after Barcelona’s 7-0 aggregate demolition at the hands of Bayern Munich last season, the crown is certainly up for grabs.
As far as the managers go, Jupp Heynckes is favourite to land the accolade having guided his former Bayern side to their treble-winning season. Premier League managers Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and the recently departed Rafael Benitez are also named, although there is no room for former Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova despite the Catalan’s La Liga triumph.
CLICK HERE OR ‘VIEW GALLERY’ TO LAUNCH OUR GUIDE OF THE 2013 FIFA BALLON D’OR SHORTLISTS.
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