Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez head the shortlist for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or. Real Madrid forward Ronaldo, who has won the award for the past two years, is joined by teammates Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez. And Barcelona's attacking triumvirate of Messi -- who is a four-time winner -- Neymar and Suarez are listed along with fellow Blaugrana stars Andres Iniesta, Javier Mascherano and Ivan Rakitic. With six, Barca have the most players nominated. It means the two Spanish giants between them provide almost half the 23-man shortlist.
Bayern Munich also have five players -- Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Arjen Robben and Arturo Vidal. Five Premier League stars make the list, headed by Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez after he helped Chile to Copa America glory on home soil in the summer. PFA Players' Player of the Year Eden Hazard is the only representative from Premier League champions Chelsea. Manchester City have three players named: Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne. Juventus' midfielder Paul Pogba is the only player from Serie A -- though Vidal played the first half of the year with Juve, with Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic completing the 23.
Ballon d'Or 2015 shortlist
Sergio Aguero (Argentina/Manchester City)
Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid)
Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid)
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/VfL Wolfsburg/Manchester City)
Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain)
Andres Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona)
Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid)
Robert Lewandowski (Poland/FC Bayern Munich)
Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona)
Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona)
Thomas Muller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich)
Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich)
Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona)
Paul Pogba (France/Juventus)
Ivan Rakitic (Croatia/FC Barcelona)
Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich)
James Rodriguez (Colombia/Real Madrid)
Alexis Sanchez (Chile/Arsenal)
Luis Suarez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona)
Yaya Toure (Cote d'Ivoire/Manchester City)
Arturo Vidal (Chile/Juventus/FC Bayern Munich)
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