(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency) Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta are the finalists for FIFA's world player of the year award, AP reported.
They were picked from a list of 23 candidates for this year's Ballon d'Or, with Messi looking to become the first player to win the award four times. The Argentina and Barcelona playmaker won the award the last three years.
'I think they are perfect picks. There is no doubt these players are among the best,' said former Brazil great Ronaldo, a three-time award winner. 'Messi and Ronaldo are really the only ones with a chance of winning, that's how it's been recently.'
The winner will be announced in Switzerland on Jan. 7. The only two other players to have won the FIFA award three times are Ronaldo and former France great Zinedine Zidane.
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque, former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho were in the running for the world coach of the year award. The women's coach of the year award will go to either France's Bruno Bini, Japan's Norio Sasaki or the United States' Pia Sundhage.
The Puskas Award for the best goal of the year will be presented to Radamel Falcao, Neymar or Miroslav Stoch.
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