FIFA releases final shortlist

The world has been waiting for the final release of the final shortlist of FIFA for this year's world player of the year award on Monday. According to thefederation official website, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have between them won the past six world player of the year awards, face opposition from Germany’s World Cup winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Ronaldo, who is the present holder of the title, having also won it in 2008, scored a record 17 goals in a Champions League campaign as Real Madrid went on to win their 10th European Cup last term.

Messi, the only player to have won the award four times, failed to win a title this year either with Barcelona or Argentina, although the 27-year-old was voted the most valuable player at the  2014 World Cup where Argentina lost 1-0 in extra-time to Germany.
Neuer, who was outstanding in goal for Germany and for Bayern Munich as they won the domestic double, would be only the second goalkeeper to win the award, which will be announced on January 12 in Zurich, after the then Soviet Union’s Lev Yashin.
Meanwhile, the coach of the year award is to be fought out between Neuer’s national coach Joachim Loew, Ronaldo’s club handler Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone, who guided the far less moneyed Atletico Madrid to the Spanish title and the final of the Champions League.

For the women’s player of the year shortlist, it consists of Brazil’s five-time winner Marta, Germany’s European player of the 2013-14 season Nadine Kessler and America’s all-time record goalscorer Abby Warmbach, winner in 2012.
Japan’s Asian coach of the year Norio Sasaki, who has been in charge of her national side since 2007, Ralf Kellermann, who guided VfL Wolfsburg to the women’s Champions League title and his compatriot Maren Meinert, who coached the German Under-20 team to their age category global title, are in line for the women’s coach of the year crown.