Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will compete for the Ballon d'Or award again after being named as finalists along with Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on Monday.

Ronaldo, who edged Messi in last year's race for the prestigious award, is considered as the strongest candidate this year after leading Real Madrid to impressive performances this year.

Ronaldo, who also took the award in 2008, helped Real Madrid win the Champions League title last season, defeating Spanish La Liga champions Atletico Madrid in the final.

Messi also has a strong chance to bag his fifth Ballon d'Or. The FC Barcelona superstar bagged the award four consecutive times from 2009 to 2012 before Ronaldo dethroned him last year.

Most analysts are convinced that this year's race between Ronaldo and Messi will be a close one again, but Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti recently said that Ronaldo should be the runaway winner.

Club and national team teammate, Pepe, also said that "it would be a scandal" if the award will not be given to the Portugal international.

"If any other player wins, they should be ashamed given what Cristiano has been doing, beating lots of records, scoring 17 goals in the Champions League last season, these things are almost impossible," Pepe said via ESPN FC.

On the other hand, Neuer's chance to win the award is considered slim at this point, considering Messi and Ronaldo's accolades this year, but UEFA president Michael Platini said in October that a player from Germany should win the award after winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

France international Franck Ribery, who was one of the final three candidates last year, also voiced out his support for Neuer last week. He said that Neuer and Netherlands star Arjen Robben should be the favorites to win the award, not Messi and Ronaldo.

"Manuel Neuer or Arjen Robben should win it," Ribery told Goal. "You can't disagree with this. Manu has won it all, he is a great guy and he isn't arrogant. Arjen has played an incredible season in the Bundesliga and then a fantastic World Cup."

FIFA, who previously named 23 candidates for the award, will name the winner at a special ceremony on Jan. 12 in Zurich.

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