The finalists for FIFA's world player of the year award have been announced and it's no surprise who has been named.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta were picked from a list of 23 players and will battle for the 2012 Ballon d'Or.
"I think they are perfect picks. There is no doubt these players are among the best," said former Brazil great Ronaldo, to the Associated Press. "Messi and Ronaldo are really the only ones with a chance of winning, that's how it's been recently."
Messi has won the award three-straight years and is in the midst of a historic season. The Argentina and Barcelona star has scored 82 goals in the 2012 calendar year, which is three short of the all-time record of 85, set in 1972 by West Germany and Bayern Munich striker Gerd Muller.
Widely considered the best player in the world, Messi has already won multiple awards this season, including his second Golden Boot award, which is given to the player who has scored the most goals in the European leagues.
He scored a Spanish-league record 50 goals with Barcelona two years after scoring 34 goals to win his first Golden Boot.
Messi commented that he dedicated the award to his fellow teammates, saying: "it is a prize for scoring goals, but without my teammates I couldn't have scored them, " according to the Associated Press.
The 25-year-old was also named La Liga's best player and best striker for the fourth-straight season.
"I want to thank the coaches who have voted me the best player and my professional colleagues who have named me best player. I'm very happy and very proud," said Messi to the Press Association after wining the award.
Ronaldo led his Read Madrid team to the Spanish title this season and was beaten out for La Liga's top awards by Messi, despite scoring 46 goals during the campaign.
Earlier this month, Ronaldo commented on the comparisons between himself and Messi as the best players in the world.
"(The rivalry) is a question of the media," Ronaldo told France Football, according to ESPN.com. "We constantly face it to sell more papers and improve television audiences. The truth is I'm a little tired of it. It's a little heavy but I'm used to it. I don't like to compare myself with others.
The Real Madrid star also spoke about the race for the Ballon d'Or.
"If I could, I'd vote for myself," Ronaldo told France Football, according to ESPN.com. "I am what I am and I'm happy with that. Being too humble isn't good. In Portugal we say that too much humility is vanity."
"Messi and I are different, that's for sure. "I respect him a lot. Messi can win (the Ballon d'Or) but so can Xavi or (Andres) Iniesta. And we cannot forget (Didier) Drogba or (Radamel) Falcao. They can also receive the trophy," Ronaldo said.
Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or in 2008 after scoring 34 goals in 66 games. He has 60 goals in all competitions this year and has scored 19 in the Champions League before Real Madrid was eliminated by Bayern Munich.
Iniesta has won awards this season already as well, including La Liga's best striker award and was also named UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for the 2011-2012 season. He also was named the best player at Euro 2012 as he helped lead his Spanish tea to the championship.
"It shows how strong football in Spain is. We have seen again what they did at the Euros and it will be interesting to see what happens in the Confederations Cup," said FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, according to ESPN.com.
Other award categories include the world coach of the year award, which will go to either Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque, former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola or Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho.
The women's world player award finalists include United States team members Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach, as well as five-time winner Marta.
The FIFA Ballon d'Or is a combination of the France Football Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year, according to UEFA.com.
According got the Associated Press, "The winner will be announced in Switzerland on Jan. 7."
