The three to make it to the final stage of the competition are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.
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While Ronaldo will be hoping for a third successive win of the coveted award, the Barcelona duo of Neymar and Messi also looks good to dethrone the Portuguese star.
Neymar, on the other hand, will take to the podium for the first time after a glorious year for the Catalans.
The four-time victor, 28, won the honour in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
It is the eighth consecutive year that Ronaldo and Messi have been on the shortlist.
Despite being given the opportunity to condemn Isco’s actions, the Barcelona statement said that Sanchis told the Tiempo de Juego programme: “Neymar is going over the line, he isn’t getting [hit] enough”.
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring Barcelona’s fourth goal during the La Liga match with Real Sociedad at Camp Nou.
1 – Number of assists made by Messi in the Champions League this season.
The Brazil captain has become a key member of the much-vaunted MSN (Messi-Luis Suarez-Neymar) combination which contributed 122 goals in Barca’s treble – Neymar grabbing 39.
The women’s Ballon d’Or will go to the Japan’s Aya Miyama, Celia Sasic of Germany, or Carli Lloyd, whose six goals powered the United States of America to World Cup victory over the summer.
The trio were chosen from an initial 23-man shortlist and the world player of the year award will be announced on January 11 at the annual bash in Zurich.
In addition, the three nominees for the FIFA Puskás Award for the “most handsome goal of the year” were announced.
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The three finalists are: Alessandro Florenzi – 16.09.2015, Roma – FC Barcelona, UEFA Champions League.
