Ronaldo, Toure, 21 others make Ballon d’Or shortlist

[Mirror]

Four days after announcing the names of candidates for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year and the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women's Football for 2013 awards, FIFA and France Football yesterday unveiled a 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or.

Real Madrid's play maker and striker, Cristiano Ronaldo; his record-signing team mate, Gareth Bale, and Manchester City's top midfielder, Yaya Toure, top the list that also includes four back-toback winner, Lionel Messi.

FIFA said in a statement yesterday that the final decisions for the winner of the 2013 World Player of the Year, will be made by the captains and head coaches of the men's national teams as well as by international media representatives selected by France Football.

"The winners of all of the awards will be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d'Or as part of a televised show at the Zurich Kongresshaus on January 13, 2014, during which the FIFA FIFPro World XI, the FIFA Puskás Award – for the most beautiful goal of the year – the FIFA Presidential Award and the FIFA Fair Play Award will also be presented," the statement added.

Also, FIFA released a shortlist of 10 coaches vying for the best manager of the year. "The list of 10 coaches has been drawn up by the Committee for Women's Football and FIFA Women's World Cup and by the FIFA Football Committee, as well as by a group of experts from France Football."