FIFA unveils players shortlisted for 2014 Ballon D’or award

FIFA and France Football unveiled Tuesday the names of the 23 players shortlisted for the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or award, FIFA reported on its website. 

Portugal’s Critisano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi are on FIFA’s list along with France’s Karim Benzema.

Yaya Toure, is the only representative of Africa in the list.

AFP - Ballon d'Or

FIFA is expected to shorten the list to three players on Dec. 1 before announcing the name of the winner on Jan. 12, 2015 in Zurich.

Messi won the award four times in the past five years before losing it to Ronaldo last year.