The world football governing body announced the nominees for the various accolades today.
Portuguese superstar and the reigning world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo will look to defend his crown and hang on to the title for another year, equalling a record of four awards scooped by his arch-rival Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo’s tally currently stands at three Ballon d’Ors, which he won in 2008, 2014 and 2015.
However, following a dismal performance in the 2015 season, that saw his club Real Madrid fail to defend their Uefa Champions League and Copa del Rey titles, it will prove to be difficult for the prolific forward to hang on to the trophy.
Messi and his Barcelona teammate Neymar da Silva are looking to snatch the award from Ronaldo, but it goes without saying that the record-breaking Argentine maestro stands a better chance of clinching the top prize ahead of his Brazilian companion.
