Messi on for hat-trick

Monday, 05/12/2011

Lionel Messi is on course to win his third Footballer of the Year award.

Having won the award in 2009 he picked it up again last year when it was combined to become the Ballon d'Or.

The Barcelona forward is now on a short list of three that includes his team-mate Xavi and former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Argentina hitman Messi hit 53 goals for the Camp Nou side last season as they became Champions of Europe and he is now clear favourite to lift this title.

Ronaldo scored the same number of times for Real Madrid, whose coach Jose Mourinho is on the shortlist for coach of the year.

The others on that list are Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson and Barca's Pep Guardiola.

• 

• Have your say