WILL MESSI MAKE IT 3 IN A ROW ?

Of the 23 nominees listed who may win The 2011 Ballon d'Or, an impressive 13 play for either Barcelona and Real Madrid, with Argentine maestro Lionel Messi favourite to lift the title for a third consecutive year.

If he does so, he will be the first player to win 3 titles in a row since Michel Platini ['83,'84 and '85], two other players have received the honour 3 times ...... Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten.

PLAYERS NOMINATED :

Eric Abidal (France), Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Karim Benzema (France), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Dani Alves (Brazil), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Nani (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Gerard Pique (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), David Villa (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Xavi (Spain).

The announcement of winners will be held in Zurich, January 9, 2012.