Lionel Messi, finalist in FIFA Golden Ball 2013

Barcelona (FCB).- Leo Messi has again received recognition as one of the very best! The Argentinean has been selected as one of the three final candidates for FIFA's 2013 Ballon D'Or award, together with Franck Ribéry (Bayern) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Madrid). The winner will be announced in Zurich on January 13.

Seventh consecutive podium

Should Messi win the award, it will be the fifth year on the run that he has been named the world's number one player, having won in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. He came second in 2008 and third in 2009.

Of the original group of 23 candidates - now reduced to just three- there were four Barça players - Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández and Neymar Jr.