Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have between them won the past six world player-of-the-year awards, face opposition from Germany's World Cup winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on this year's Ballon d'Or shortlist announced by FIFA on Monday.
Ronaldo is the present holder of the title, having also won it in 2008. Messi is the only player to have won the award four times.
Neuer would be only the second goalkeeper to win the award, which is announced on January 12 in Zurich.