The three nominated for the golden ball are...

The three football players nominated for the golden ball are already announced. ON a special event in Paris, organized by the french magazine "France Football" and FIFA. Those three are Lionell Messi from Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez, again from Barcelona, and Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. On 1st November, a list of the best 23 players in the world was announced, but 20 candidates were eliminated and only 3 remained. The winner will be known on 9th January, 2012 at a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland. The Argentinian star of Barcelona Messi has the possibility to become the second football player in the world, after Michel Platini, to win the award three times in a row. Leo has already taken the prize twice. The French legend won in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Another two players also managed to win the award two times: Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten. Furthermore, Messi is nominated for five years in a row.
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to add another golden ball to his collection, he alraedy has one in it, won in 2008, when he was a Manchester United player. He also finished second two times: in 2007 and in 2009.
Xavi is nominated for third year in a row. Last year he waws second and two years ago he was third.