bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

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 in the shortlist announced by Fifa.
Ronaldo, who is the present holder of the title having also won it in 2008, scored a record 17 goals in a Champions League campaign as Real Madrid went on to win their 10th European Cup last term.

Messi, the only player to have won the award four times, failed to win a title this year either with Barcelona or Argentina, although he was integral in his country reaching the World Cup final where they lost 1-0 in extra-time to Germany.

The 27-year-old did pick up the consolation of player of the tournament.
Neuer, who was outstanding in goal for Germany and for Bayern Munich as they won the domestic double, would be only the second goalkeeper to win the award, which is announced on January 12 in Zurich, after the then Soviet Union’s Lev Yashin.

Coach of the year is to be fought out between Neuer’s national coach Joachim Loew, Ronaldo’s club handler Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone, who guided the far less moneyed Atletico Madrid to the Spanish title and the final of the Champions League.
The trio selected for the Puskas award for best goal are Colombia’s James Rodriguez, for his goal against Uruguay in the 2-0 victory in their World Cup last 16 clash, Robin van Persie’s leaping header against Spain in their World Cup group game and outsider Irish woman Stephanie Roche for her goal for Peamount United against Wexford Youths in October 20, 2013.

Roche doesn’t make the women’s player of the year shortlist which consists of Brazil’s five-time winner Marta, Germany’s European player od the 2013-14 season Nadine Kessler and America’s all-time record goalscorer Abby Warmbach, winner in 2012.
Japan’s Asian coach of the year Norio Sasaki, who has been in charge of her national side since 2007, Ralf Kellermann, who guided VfL Wolfsburg to the women’s Champions League title and his compatriot Maren Meinert, who coached the German Under-20 team to their age category global title, are in line for the women’s coach of the year crown.


Fifa World Cup: Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 to finish third in Qatar

Corruption in sport: researchers seek positive outcomes from real scandals to help ‘restore trust’ among fans

Match-fixing: 160 suspicious matches in Asia in 2020 as Covid-19 allows criminals to target vulnerable leagues, Sportradar says

Former Uefa chief Michel Platini arrested after probe into awarding of 2022 World Cup to Qatar

Fifa corruption scandal

Can goalie Manuel Neuer beat Messi and Ronaldo to player of the year prize?

Manuel Neuer helped Germany win the World Cup. Photo: AFP

Carlo Ancelotti, Diego Simeone and Joachim Loew are the nominees for coach of the year. Photo: AFP

Ronaldo and Messi have both won before. Photo: AFP

Sport

Football

Bayern stopper would become first keeper since Lev Yashin to win Ballon d'Or
