Messi set to get 5th FIFA best player prize, end Ronaldo run

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is favored to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or today, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s two-year hold on soccer’s top individual prize. Messi already has a 4-3 lead in their career duel for the annual FIFA prize but has recently been eclipsed by his great rival.
That changed in 2015 when Messi inspired Barcelona to regain the Champions League title among five major trophies to none for Real Madrid, despite Ronaldo’s relentless goal-­scoring pace.
Barcelona’s dominance also helped Brazil star Neymar earn a place on the three-man shortlist for the first time.
The Catalan club can sweep the men’s honors with Luis Enrique heading the coaches’ shortlist after becoming European champion and winning the Spanish league and cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup.
Messi can also win the Puskas Award — a fans’ online vote for best goal — for his solo slalom through the Athletic Bilbao defense to score in the Spanish cup final.
Barcelona swept the 2011 awards when Messi and then-coach Pep Guardiola won. Guardiola is also nominated this year after winning the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. Guardiola will skip Monday’s event to stay with Bayern’s midwinter training camp in Qatar.
The World Cup-winning United States team is set to dominate the women’s honors. Carli Lloyd’s 13 minute hat trick in the final — including a shot from the halfway line in a 5-2 rout of Japan — makes her a top contender for the player’s prize. Lloyd is a finalist for the first time at 33 after a decade of national team duty, more than 200 appearances and two Olympic titles. AP