Football personalities and who they are rooting for in the 2014 Ballon d'Or race

Cristiano Ronaldo, Manuel Neuer and Lionel Messi are the three short-listed names for the Ballon d’Or,With the year almost coming to an end, we edge closer to the day when the Ballon d’Or winner for this year will be announced. FIFA have just announced the final 3-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or, narrowing down to the final three finalists of this year are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Manuel Neuer.Many football players, managers and pundits have already given their opinions on who they are rooting for in this year’s race, and in this slideshow, we bring you their comments:Have your say:

#1 Manuel Neuer - Bayern Munich and Germany

Coming from a victorious Bundesliga and World Cup campaign, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is in a league of his own and is undoubtedly the best player in his position. However, winning the Ballon d’Or ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is a whole different thing. Several players and coaches have been touting him to win the award, and here are a few of them:

Former Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff

"Neuer's good, he deserves the Ballon d'Or right enough," he added. "But it is difficult for him to win. He has absolute phenomena like Ronaldo and Messi to compete against, I do not think he can win. ”

Bayern Munich right-back Rafinha

“Normally keepers don't even make the final three, so it's already a huge achievement, but I think he should go on and win it. He's been brilliant in the last year. We won almost everything with Bayern and in the summer he won the World Cup with Germany. I've got huge respect for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, everyone knows how good they are, but I think Manuel's the favourite.”

Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller

"The Cristiano Ronaldo option would be a bit boring really. I hope that 'Manu' comes out on top. He has my vote, even if it does not count."

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben

“What can I say? For me, Manuel Neuer or Arjen Robben have to win it, there’s not two ways about it. Manu has won everything and is a good person, not arrogant. Arjen played unbelievably last Bundesliga season and after that had an excellent World Cup. But I fear that there are still a lot of politics.”

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann

"I'm with Neuer because, basically, I'm neither in favour of Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Neuer is a great goalkeeper and is now a world champion.”

Dutch football icon Johann Cruyff

“I would vote for a German player in the Ballon d’Or ballot. Neuer is an extraordinary goalkeeper, who would deserve to win it.”

Alonso’s comments were somewhat shocking given Cristiano Ronaldo is his former team-mate.

Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso

"If Manuel won it, it'd be totally deserved. Neuer is by far the best keeper I've played with and is also outstanding outfield."

UEFA president Michel Platini

“There are lots of players who would deserve to win the award, but in my opinion, in a World Cup year the prize should go to a World Cup winner.”

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal

"You always have to win something and the best thing to win is the World Championship. I hope it shall be a German player because they deserve it. In Germany, the level of the matches in the Bundesliga is also very high."

Lazio striker Miroslav Klose

“I would give it to Manuel Neuer. It’s normal to talk about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo being the best, but Manuel is a phenomenon. I hope he wins, I don’t know any better professionals. He is incredible.”

Former Ukrainian international Andriy Shevchenko

"I will give it to Neuer the goalkeeper. Yeah. He's amazing. He's incredible."

Former Italian manager Giovanni Trapattoni

"Neuer, for a change. He's a stalwart goalkeeper, a bit like Dino Zoff. I love those players. He could also play as a striker. It would be something different if a goalkeeper would be elected FIFA World Player of the Year."

#2 Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid and Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo stands as the favourite to bag the award, and why wouldn’t he? The Portugal winger had one of his best years in football, scoring 65 goals from 60 appearances, leading Real Madrid to their 10^th Champions League victory.

Here are some of the former players and managers rooting for Ronaldo:

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon

“For me, Cristiano Ronaldo will probably win, and he deserves it. Even if he had not won the Champions League, I think that you need to reward the strongest player at the moment.”

Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao

"Anyone can see it would be an utter disgrace if Cristiano didn’t receive the Ballon d’Or, which is an individual award, not for a team. There has never been a bigger difference between the best in the world and number two.”

"His Champions League record is an incredible record and people also need to take into account the mountain of goals he’s scored this season already. He keeps on putting in amazing performances without ever tiring.

"As our coach said recently, let’s talk about next year’s Ballon d’Or because there’s no point talking about this year’s now; it can only go to Cristiano. In 2014, it’s not hard to recognise that Cristiano was clearly the best in the world."

Former German player and manager Lothar Matthaus

“My personal concern is that Ronaldo will win the award. His goal ratio is unique, he sets new records. Normally the World Cup should outshine everything but, in the end, Ronaldo's goals will outshine everything. To me he is the favourite because he fascinates us every week.”

Gerard Pique roots for his former teammate and current rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique

“Cristiano is a perfect machine, a hard worker who always wants to improve. He demands a lot from himself, something that he showed at United, but the most surprising thing is that Lionel Messi won four Ballon d’Ors in a row and he still kept on going and has the strength to beat him.”

“People always draw conclusions about him based on specific things he does without actually getting to know him.”

Former Manchester United captain Phill Neville

“I think Ronaldo at the moment is just shading it [for the Ballon d’Or] because of the Champions League success and the fact he’s hit the ground running again this season.

“I’m a massive fan of Ronaldo, I saw him as a young kid, I saw what it took him to get to where he is today. And it’s great we’re seeing two players in our lifetime, who are probably going to be the greatest of all time.”

President of Portugal's Football Association Fernando Gomes

"If there is a year in which Cristiano Ronaldo deserves the Ballon d'Or, it is in the year 2014. Ronaldo initiated the year with excellent sport performance, culminating in conquering the Champions League for his club. He became the best scorer in the Champions and Spanish championship and conquered the European Super Cup,"

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti

“We believe that Cristiano Ronaldo has without doubt had his best ever professional year individually, and has claimed the Champions League, the Golden Shoe and the record for the highest goalscorer in an edition of the Champions League, as well as the Copa del Rey and the top-scorer award in La Liga.”

“In the current season, he has won the European Super Cup, scoring both goals in the match, and is achieving spectacular figures such as his 20 goals in the first 12 match days of La Liga, which confirm his great moment of form and ensure that, more than ever, he is deserving of the Ballon d'Or.”

Cornella goalkeeper Inigo

“I think Cristiano has been better than Messi and I say that even though I am not a Madrid fan. I like Barca more but I would give it to Cristiano Ronaldo. I would certainly not give it Neuer because it was never given to Casillas!"

#3 Lionel Messi - Barcelona and Argentina

Leo Messi had a rather disappointing season by his standards, and his performance for Barcelona and Argentina were both eclipsed by Ronaldo and Neuer who have both won silverware this season. Not surprisingly, the number of people rooting for the Argentine star is relatively very low compared to the previous years when his name is what everyone loved sining.

Marseille head coach Marcelo Bielsa:

"The only thing I want is for Messi to win the Ballon d'Or.”

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique:

“This prize is for the best player of the season and that is Messi, so I would give the Ballon d'Or to Leo."

Former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini:

"When I see Messi play, in my opinion, he should win the Ballon d’Or every year. He is an unbelievable player. ”

Former Barcelona star and Queretaro forward Ronaldinho:

“Cristiano is very complete, but Messi has magic."