Ballon d'Or 2014 shortlist has been finalized and the result is not that surprising. For this year, the prestigious football award can go to either Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina, Portugal and Real Madrid star player Cristiano Ronaldo, and Bayern Munich's Manue Neuer who helped steer Germany into a World Cup title last July. Among these three, Messi is the only one who didn't win a team trophy. His main highlight is steering Argentina into a runner-up finish in Brazil. His Barcelona only came second to Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
Ronaldo is the overwhelming choice among the names in the Ballon d'Or 2014 shortlist. He steered Real Madrid into top of the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League and as well as helped them capture Copa del Rey.
Manuel Neuer, who is arguably the best goalkeeper at the moment, also put his team into greater heights this season. Bayern Munchen won Bundesliga with a huge disparity and then went on to take home the DB Pokal trophy after beating rivals Borussia Dortmund.
All these three in this year's Ballon d'Or 2014 Shortlist are deserving of the award but what do their colleagues think?
For Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann, it should be the lone goalkeeper in the Ballon d'Or 2014 Shortlist that should win.
"I'm with Neuer because, basically, I'm neither in favour of Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Neuer is a great goalkeeper and is now a world champion," he said according to Goal.
His coach, Diego Simeone, has different take though. The tactician is vouching for Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or trophy.
"Without Messi, Argentina wouldn't have got to the final," Diego Simeone told Goal. "Messi is the best player in the world - even without the World Cup."
Valencia coach Nuno Espirito Santo is backing Cristiano Ronaldo to win Ballon d'Or 2014 saying the Real Madrid star 'clearly' deserves it. Portugal's Football Association president Fernando Gomes has the same sentiment.
"If there is a year in which Cristiano Ronaldo deserves the Ballon d'Or, it is in the year 2014," he said.
Everyone in the Ballon d'Or 2014 Shortlist deserves the award but who do you think should win?
