Ballon d’Or 2015: All You Need To Know About Today’s Ceremony For The Crowning Of World’s Best Player

8 years ago

Ballon d’Or 2015: All You Need To Know About Today’s Ceremony For The Crowning Of World’s Best Player

Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi is favourite to beat Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar…All you need to know about Monday’s star-studded ceremony.

The Ballon d’Or is one of the most coveted prizes for football players, and today will see the crowning of the 2015 world’s best player in Switzerland.

Barcelona duo, Lionel Messi and Neymar have made the final shortlist, as has reigning champion, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Beneath are all you need to know about Monday’s star-studded ceremony.

WHERE AND WHEN
The Ballon d’Or gala will take place on Monday at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland. The ceremony will begin at 6.30pm CET (5.30pm GMT) with the prestigious prize to be handed out later in the evening. The gala will be streamed live on FIFA’s website and their You Tube channel.

THE FINALISTS
As has become almost a tradition in the last few years – Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo have made the final shortlist. They are joined this year by Messi’s team-mate, Brazilian forward Neymar.

THE HOSTS
Sky Sports presenter, Kate Abdo will return to host the gala on Monday. This year, Abdo will be joined by Northern Irish actor James Nesbitt.

ODDS
Messi is the overwhelming favourite to win the award for the fifth time in his career and the first time since 2012. Ronaldo has won the last two titles and was looking to join Messi on four, but he may well have to settle for third behind Neymar as well.

THE ENTERTAINMENT
All those worried there won’t be much British interest at the ceremony, fear not. Leona Lewis has been given the honour of performing at the gala on Monday and she will be joined by young Croatians Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser, together known as 2CELLOS,

OTHER AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED
• Men’s Football Coach of the Year (Pep Guardiola – Bayern Munich, Luis Enrique – Barcelona, Jorge Sampaoli – Chile)

• Puskas Award (Alessandro Florenzi – Roma, Wendell Lira – Goianesia, Lionel Messi – Barcelona)

• Women’s World Player of the Year – (Carli Lloyd -USA, Aya Miyama – Japan and Celia Sasic -Germany)

• Women’s Football Coach of the Year (Jill Ellis – USA, Mark Sampson – England, Norio Sasaki – Japan)

• Presidential Award

• Fair Play Award

• FIFA/FIFPro World XI

PREVIOUS WINNERS OF BALLON D’OR
2014 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2013 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2012 – Lionel Messi
2011 – Lionel Messi
2010 – Lionel Messi
2009 – Lionel Messi
2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2007 – Kaka
2006 – Fabio Cannavaro
2005 – Ronaldinho