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Cristiano Ronaldo clutches the Ballon d'Or at the FIFA ceremony held in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday. Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images
The three players on FIFA's Ballon d'Or shortlist (left to right): Cristiano Ronaldo, Manuel Neuer and Lionel Messi. FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo in action for his club, Real Madrid. The winner of the Ballon d'Or 12 months ago had another brilliant season for Los Blancos, scoring 51 goals during the 2013/14 season. Ronaldo was also instrumental in Real Madrid's 10th ("La Decima") Champions League title. Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Ronaldo and Portugal has a disappointing 2014 World Cup, failing to make it out of the Group stages beaten to second place by the U.S. team. FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images/file
Lionel Messi has won the prestigious award for four consecutive years from 2009 to 2012. In December, the Argentine broke the La Liga all-time scoring record surpassing the 251-goal mark set by Spain's Telmo Zarra during the 1940s and 1950s. Messi also holds the Champions League goalscoring record, netting 75 times to date. David Ramos/Getty Images
Messi in action for Argentina against Belgium during last year's World Cup in Brazil. ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images/file
Messi, who was awarded the Player of the Tournament trophy, shakes hands with Manuel Neuer (winner of the Golden Glove award) following the conclusion of the final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After demolishing the hosts 7-1 in the semifinal, Germany edged past Argentina 1-0 in the final. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images/file
Manuel Neuer has been a formidable presence in goal for Germany conceding just four goals in seven World Cup Finals matches and a total of 40 goals in 62 matches throughout 2014. Matthias Hangst/Getty Images/file
Neuer was also a key member of Bayern Munich's Bundesliga-winning team last season. Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images/file
Neuer celebrates with his Germany teammates following the 1-0 win over Argentina in the World Cup final last July. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images/file
