Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar to vie for FIFA best player

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Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar are among the top nominees for the Best FIFA Men's Player award, which will be handed out later this year.

The world football governing body announced the finalists for all categories in London on Friday.

Ronaldo is likely to bag home the award for the second year running. The Real Madrid star played a key role in the team's Champions League and La Liga titles this year.

The Best FIFA Men's Player Award winner Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid kisses the trophy during the awards ceremony on January 9, 2017 in Zurich, Switzerland. /CFP Photo

Messi, a five-time winner of FIFA's Ballon d'Or – which was replaced last year with the Best awards – was the top scorer in La Liga last season with 37 goals for Barcelona.

Neymar, who joined Paris Saint Germain from Barcelona for a record 222 million euros last month, scored 20 goals and provided 27 assists in 45 matches for the Catalan club in 2016-17.

Neymar of Barcelona vies for the ball during the International Champions Cup football match at Hard Rock Stadium on July 29, 2017 in Miami, Florida. /AFP Photo

The candidates for the best goalkeeper award are Juventus veteran Gianluigi Buffon, Real Madrid's Keylor Navas and Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer. There was no place for Manchester United's David de Gea.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane will be aiming to become the first person to clinch awards for the best player and coach. The three-time winner of the formerly named FIFA World Player of the Year was shortlisted for the best coach award alongside Chelsea's Antonio Conte and Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri.

Venezuelan striker Deyna Castellanos, American midfielder Carli Lloyd, and Venezuela's Lieke Martens will vie for the best women's player accolade.

The winners will be crowned at the London Palladium Theatre on October 23.

Check out the full list of the Best FIFA Football Award candidates:

The Best FIFA Men's Player:

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid CF)
Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona)
Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)

The Best FIFA Women's Player:

Deyna Castellanos (Venezuela/Santa Clarita Blue Heat/Florida State Seminoles)
Carli Lloyd (USA/Houston Dash/Manchester City Women)
Lieke Martens (Netherlands/FC Rosengard/FC Barcelona)

The Best FIFA Men's Coach:

Massimiliano Allegri (Italy/Juventus)
Antonio Conte (Italy/Chelsea)
Zinedine Zidane (France/Real Madrid CF)

The Best FIFA Women's Coach:

Nils Nielsen (Denmark/Danish national team)
Gerard Precheur (France/Olympique Lyonnais)
Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands/Dutch national team)

The Best FIFA Goalkeeper:

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus)
Keylor Navas (Costa Rica/Real Madrid CF)
Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern München).

FIFA Fan Award:

Borussia Dortmund
Celtic FC
FC Copenhagen

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency