Three Barça players in FIFA Ballon d'Or Award

Barcelona (FCB).- Just as in 2009, the Ballon D'Or will be coming to Barca, as the three Masia graduates took the three finalist spots in this year’s award announced at lunchtime today in an event in Paris. Ex France international Jean Pierre Papin read out the shortlist.

The final award ceremony will take place on January 19^th in Zurich when the winner will be announced. 

Following on from Sacchi’s Milan

Barça are the second club to get all three top spots in the award, following on from Arrigo Sacshi’s AC Milan who in 1998 were represented by Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard, with  Basten, Baresi and Rijkaard repeating the feat the year after.

Messi, 2009 winner

The last winner of both the Ballon d'Or and the  FIFA World Player before they joined this season, was Leo Messi, Xavi and Iniesta were both finalists in both awards last year too.

THE DETAIL

Barça dominates nominations

Before the top three were named, Barça had already made their mark as the team with most nominees –six (Puyol, Alves, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Villa) out of the 23 candidates.