23 MAN LIST OF THE FIFA BALLON d’OR NOMINEES TO BE RELEASED ON TUESDAY 28TH OCTOBER

A list of the 23 Player of the Year candidates will be decided by a joint group consisting of the FIFA Football Committee and experts from reputable football publication, France Football, with the final list being announced on Tuesday 28 October.

FIFA confirmed that the 23-man list will then be cut down to the three finalists, which will be voted on by journalists, national coaches and captains.

The Ballon d’Or winner will then be announced in a star-studded gala, which will be held at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 12 January 2015.

2013 winner, Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be the front-runner, having scored 31 goals in La Liga, as well as breaking the Champions League single season goal-scoring record,Lionel Messi and Luiz Suarez also expected to feature in the top 3