Barcelona players, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Lionel Messi were on Monday confirmed by the world soccer ruling body, FIFA, as its three nominees for the 2010 Ballon d'Or honour. That is not a surprise, but the question is who among the trio will grab the prestigious award. The winners will be announced on January 10

Messi, as you would expect, is the front-runner with 34 League goals during 2009/10 season, which saw him win the European Golden Shoe. Xavi played consistently well and just deserves to be on the list. While Andres Iniesta actually was not at his best during the first half of last season, his match-winning goal in the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, seems to be just enough to ensure him a place on the list.

The trio followed in the footsteps of the Milan team of the late 1980's, who were the last side to contain all three finalists for the award, which was won in both 1988 and 1989 by Dutchman Marco van Basten. The winners will be revealed at the first FIFA Ballon d'Or gala as part of a televised ceremony at the Zurich Kongresshaus on January 10, 2011. There are also the FIFA FIFPro World XI and the FIFA Puskás Award for the most beautiful goal of the year to be announced for the second year running. The online vote for fans on FIFA.com for the FIFA Puskás Award has now reached the 1 million vote landmark, with three days to go until the poll closes at noon CET on December 13. The FIFA Presidential Award and the FIFA Fair Play Award will also be presented during the gala. The Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year accolades have always stirred up debates amongst fans in the past. Do not expect it to be any different this year now that the awards have been merged.

Andres Iniesta

Iniesta's inclusion will perhaps draw the most mixed reactions. The attacking midfielder spent the first half of 2010 nursing a niggling injury and as a result, his performances were below his usual high standard. But the extra rest that he enjoyed along the way turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he has become the only star player who featured in the final of the World Cup and carried his form into the new league season.

Don Andres not only scored the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands, one which delivered Spain their first ever World Cup trophy, but he kept La Furia Roja ticking over throughout the competition when his chief collaborator Xavi was far from his best.


Lionel Messi

Messi, who is the current holder of the award, failed to carry Argentina far into the South Africa 2010 World Cup, but his form for Barcelona has been simply sublime in the whole of the calendar year: 54 goals in 47 club games in 2010 already till the final three shortlist was announced, including six hat-tricks. If the Ballon d'Or is a recognition and reward for consistency, then Little Leo as he is fondly called, deserves to retain the gong he won last year.

Since finishing second in the 2008 edition, Messi's level has not dropped one bit. If anything, he has been steadily improving, not just in his goal ratio, but his all-round performance. And that does not include the mesmerising exhibitions and master classes that he puts on every time he steps onto the pitch.