FIFA announce 2012 Ballon D'or 23-man shortlist

FIFA have announced their 23-man shortlist for the 2012 Ballon D’Or. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are favourtites to lift the trophy in the New Year, with Messi having won the Ballon D'or award three times.

Just Drogba and Brazilian Neymar are the only players currently playing their trade outside of Europe to make the shortlist.

23-man Shortlist for the 2012 Ballon d’Or

Sergio Agüero (ARG/Manchester City)

Mario Balotelli (ITA/Manchester City)

Karim Benzema (FRA/Real Madrid)

Gianluigi Buffon (ITA/Juventus Turin)

Sergio Busquets (ESP/FC Barcelona)

Iker Casillas (ESP/Real Madrid)

Didier Drogba (CIV/Chelsea, Shanghai Shenhua)

Radamel Falcao (COL/Atlético Madrid)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE/Milan AC, Paris-SG)

Andrés Iniesta (ESP/FC Barcelona)

Lionel Messi (ARG/FC Barcelona)

Manuel Neuer (GER/Bayern Munich)

Neymar (BRA/Santos)

Mesut Özil (GER/Real Madrid)

Gerard Piqué (ESP/FC Barcelona)

Andrea Pirlo (ITA/Juventus Turin)

Sergio Ramos (ESP/Real Madrid)

Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid)

Wayne Rooney (ENG/Manchester United)

Yaya Touré (CIV/Manchester City)

Robin van Persie (NED/Arsenal, Manchester United)

Xabi Alonso (ESP/Real Madrid)

Xavi Hernandez (ESP/FC Barcelona)