Another Ballon d’Or shortlist has been drawn up. Trust me, it’s going to be as fierce as ever. Unlike the past editions where few or no Premier League players get nominations, 5 EPL players are included in the 23-man shortlist. The Coach of the year category contains some really prominent names, the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Del Bosque are most people’s favourites.

Anyways, I see either Lionel Messi, who’s clinched the award four consecutive times winning the 5th or Frank Ribery who inspired his club, Bayern Munich to win the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup and was later named

UEFA’s best player in Europe for the

2012-13 season to nab it. The winner will be unveiled on January 13 in Zurich.

NOMINEES

(1) Gareth Bale (Real Madrid/Wales)

(2) Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich/Germany)

(3) Thomas Muller (B Munich/Germany)

(4) Manuel Neuer (B Munich/Germany)

(5) Bastian Schweinsteiger (B Munich/

Germany)

(6) Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/Germany)

(7) Robin van Persie (Man United/Netherlands)

(8) Arjen Robben (B Munich/Netherlands)

(9) Edinson Cavani (PSG/Uruguay)

(10) Luis Suarez (Liverpool/Uruguay)

(11) Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain)

(12) Xavi (Barcelona/Spain)

(13) Neymar (Barcelona/Brazil)

(14) Thiago Silva (PSG/Brazil)

(15) Radamel Falcao (Monaco/Colombia

(16) Andrea Pirlo (Juventus/Italy)

(17) Frank Ribery (B Munich/France)

(18) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal

(19) Eden Hazard (Chelsea/Belgium)

(20) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG/ Sweden)

(21) Robert Lewandowski (Dortmund/

Poland)

(22) Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ Argentina)

(23) Yaya Toure (Manchester City/Ivory

Coast)

COACH OF THE YEAR

(1) Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)

(2) Rafael Benitez (Napoli),

(3) Antonio Conte (Juventus)

(4) Vicente Del Bosque (Spain)

(5) Sir Alex Ferguson (ex-Manchester United)

(6) Jupp Heynckes (ex-Bayern Munich) (7) Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund)

(8) Jose Mourinho (Chelsea)

(9) Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil)

(10) Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)