Fourteen players from Barcelona and Real Madrid have been included in the initial list of 59 candidates for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The newspaper claims the favourite Lionel Messi is joined by teammates Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic, Claudio Bravo, Neymar, Javier Mascherano and Luis Suarez – who appears to no longer bear the wrath of world football's governing body following his World Cup bite last year.
On the other hand, Madrid are believed to be represented by 2013 and 2014 winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos.
Other representatives from La Liga include Atletico Madrid duo Antoine Griezmann and Jackson Martinez, while former Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi, ex-Villarreal forward Giovani dos Santos and Carlos Bacca – who fired Sevilla to Europa League glory last season, before joining Milan in the summer – are also named.
Alvaro Morata, Diego Costa and David de Gea make up the five Spaniards in the list, although there are no places for Barca duo Gerard Pique or Sergio Busquets or Premier League duo David Silva and Cesc Fabregas.
FIFA's Football Committee, chaired by UEFA President Michel Platini, will cut the list down to 23 on Friday, with an official announcement planned for early December.
