The victor will be revealed at a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland on January 11, 2016. “Luis Suarez also deserved to be among the three best, but that is to take nothing away from Cristiano Ronaldo, who also deserved it”.
Advertisement
It is the sixth time in seven years the Argentinian has won the title of best forward and best overall player in the league.
Neymar will join Kaka, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos and Romario as the seventh Brazilian to be in the shortlist for the Ballon D’Or.
Barcelona forward Neymar, 23, can be as good as he wants to be and will follow Lionel Messi in defining an era in football, his club and Brazil teammate Dani Alves predicts.
“Messi is ahead of the two (Neymar and Ronaldo) in terms of performance this year but I feel Iniesta deserves a places in the final three”, Amuneke told Completesportsnigeria.com. He is part of a formidable front line that also includes Messi and Uruguayan Luis Suarez.
Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff has heaped glowing praise on Lionel Messi and believes the Barcelona star is a much better team player than Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I am grateful for these awards – after the season the team played, we deserved some recognition, maybe even a little more?“, he said.
Messi has already won the Ballon d’or for a record four times while Neymar who many see as the outsider in this shortlist is eyeing his first win.
Meanwhile, Neymar Jr.makes his debut as a Ballon d’Or nominee thanks to the same role he had with Messi in obtaining treble. Messi also won the vote for the best striker following a poll of the captains of each of Spain’s top flight sides.
Neymar is now La Liga’s top scorer, having scored 14 goals in just 12 appearances this season.
Advertisement
He helped Barcelona to claim five prizes to better rival club Real Madrid’s three.
