Messi and Neymar finalists for the Ballon d’Or

Barcelona (CNA).- Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. have been named as two of three finalists for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or. On Monday, FIFA announced the names of three finalists from among 23 semi-finalists who had been previously announced. In 2015, Messi and Neymar were the main drivers of FC Barcelona’s success, forming the so-called trident alongside Suárez, who was another semi-finalists, together with Barça players Andrés Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic and Javier Mascherano. Leo Messi’s four Ballons d’Or are the most in history, which he won consecutively from 2009 to 2012. Since 2007, when he was third, he has never been left off the podium. Luis Enrique Martínez is also in the mix after he was named alongside Pep Guardiola (Bayern Munich) and Jorge Sampaoli (Chile) as one of three candidates for FIFA Best coach of the year. The winners will be announced on 11 January at a gala to be held in Monaco.

Success for FC Barcelona at the LFP Gala Awards

As if it was a FIFA Ballon d'Or preview, FC Barcelona were the stars of the show at the LFP (Spanish Football League) Gala Awards Ceremony for 2014/15 which was held on Monday. The event took place at the International Convention Centre in Barcelona where Luis Enrique, Claudio Bravo, Neymar and Leo Messi all claimed awards, the Argentine taking two accolades, to complement the League Championship claimed last season.

Ninth podium for Messi

Leo Messi’s four Ballons d’Or are the most in history, which he won consecutively from 2009 to 2012. Messi has now made the final three nine times. Since 2007, when he was third, he has never been left off the podium.

In 2015, Messi played 48 games across all competitions, starting 45 of them, and scoring a total of 44 goals to go along with 21 assists.

Neymar's first shot

In his third season at FC Barcelona, Neymar has made the Ballon d’Or podium for the first time, making him among the three best players in the world, according to FIFA. He is the first Brazilian finalist since Kaká won it in 2007.

Neymar earned this recognition after an impeccable 2015, during which he played 50 games — in the League, the Copa del Rey and Champions League — starting 49 of them and scoring 41 goals to go along with 12 assists.

Luis Enrique candidate for FIFA Best Coach of the Year

Not just Leo Messi and Neymar will be vying for award the FIFA Gala in the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco as best FIFA players of the year. On 11 January 2016, Luis Enrique Martínez is also in the mix after he was named alongside Pep Guardiola (Bayern Munich) and Jorge Sampaoli (Chile) as one of three candidates for FIFA Best coach of the year.

Luis Enrique won the league, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in his first season as coach at FC Barcelona. Furthermore, he also won the European Super Cup against Sevilla in the month of August. At the moment, Barça lead the Spanish league with 33 points after a perfect November and they are already through to the last 16 of this season’s Champions League as group winners.

2015 in numbers

The Asturian coach has led the side in a total of 58 matches so far in 2015. His statistics include the treble and the European Super Cup and are without doubt highly impressive. In total he has won 47 games, 5 draws and suffered just 6 defeats, a record that has rewarded him with a nomination for the FIFA award for the best coach of the calendar year. During his 58 games in charge, Barça have scored 160 goals and conceded 49.