The three-man shortlist for the 2012 Ballon d’Or award will be announced later today, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo expected to be on it.
The duo are seen as first and second favourites to win the prestigious award at January’s FIFA Ballon d’Or gala.
Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas are other names anticipated as in contention to complete the final three, from the current list of 23 nominations.
Today’s announcement will reveal the three players to have polled the highest in votes from captains and Coaches of each national team and journalists for each country.
