On Monday evening, FIFA revealed the surnames of three football players who are candidates for the 2014 "Golden Ball" award.
From the very beginning, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer were considered the main favorites in the battle for the most prestigious individual award.
The main contender is still identified as Real Madrid and Portuguese national team forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who has already scored 26 goals this season. However, L. Messi and M. Neuer also have excellent chances to win the "Golden Ball", as they played in the World Cup final.
Competing for the title of the best women's footballer of 2014 are Nadine Kessler (Germany), Marta (Brazil) and Abby Wambach (USA). Meanwhile, the candidates for the best coach of the year are Diego Simeone, Joachim Low and Carlo Ancelotti.
Three authors of the most beautiful goals of the year were also revealed. The list includes Colombian James Rodriguez, Dutchman Robin van Persie and unexpectedly, woman Stephanie Roche, who is even mentioned as the main contender.
It was also revealed the list of 15 forwards who are candidates to enter the best team of the year. They are Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Man City), Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Diego Costa (Spain, Chelsea), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, PSG), Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Bayern), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany, Bayern), Neymar (Brazil, Barcelona), Marco Reus (Germany, Borussia), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, Bayern), Franck Ribery (France, Bayern), Wayne Rooney (England, Man Utd), Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Barcelona).
