FIFA SHORTLIST 23-MAN FOR BALLON D'OR AWARD

World football's governing body has announced the remaining candidates
to win the prestigious individual trophy this year, with six Bayern
Munich players making the cut
Fifa and France Football have revealed the 23-man shortlist for the
2013 Fifa Ballon d'Or, with title-holder Lionel Messi, Bayern Munich
star Frank Ribery and Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo among the
candidates to win the individual award.
Ribery is accompanied by five Bayern Munich team-mates following the
Bundesliga giants' impressive 2012-13 campaign.
Furthermore, usual suspects such as Andres Iniesta and Xavi have made
the cut, as well as Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The final decisions will be made by the captains and head coaches of
the men's national teams as well as international media
representatives selected by France Football.
In early December 2013, Fifa and France Football will announce the
names of the three men who have received the most votes, without
revealing the winner.
The winners of the award will be revealed at the Fifa Ballon d'Or gala
as part of a televised show at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 13 January
2014.
Last year's podium was made up of Messi, Ronaldo and Iniesta.

SHORTLIST IN FULL:
1. Franck Ribery (France)
2. Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
3. Thomas Muller (Germany)
4. Manuel Neuer (Germany)
5. Philipp Lahm (Germany)
6. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
7. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
8. Andres Iniesta (Spain)
9. Xavi (Spain)
10. Neymar (Brazil)
11. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
12. Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)
13. Thiago Silva (Brazil)
14. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
15. Gareth Bale (Wales)
16. Mesut Ozil (Germany)
17. Robin van Persie (Netherlands)
18. Yaya Toure (Cote d'Ivoire)
19. Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
20. Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
21. Radamel Falcao (Colombia)
22. Eden Hazard (Belgium)
23. Robert Lewandowski (Poland)