Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer on final shortlist of Ballon d'Or 2014

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer make up the final shortlist for the 2014 Fifa Ballon d'Or award.

The 23-man shortlist was reduced by experts from the Fifa Football Committee and France Football on Monday 1 December. 

Ronaldo, the 2013 winner, remains on course to retain the title after a sparkling year in which he celebrated Champions League success with Real Madrid.

Four-time winner Messi continues his duel with the Portugal captain, with the duo almost exclusively battling for football's biggest individual accolade for the last six years.

Bayern Munich shot-stopper Neuer is looking to crash the party and become the first goalkeeper to win the award since Lev Yashin in 1963 after his integral role in Germany's World Cup success and another sublime league-winning season with the Bavarian giants.

Chelsea trio Thibaut Courtois, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, Manchester City's Yaya Toure and Manchester United midfielder Angel Di Maria made up the Premier League contingent who have failed to make the cut.

Gareth Bale, the sole Briton on the 23-man list, has also missed out.

Carlo Ancelotti, Diego Simeone and Joachim Low make up the three-man shortlist for the coach of the year award after their respective Champions League, La Liga and World Cup triumphs.

Ireland's Stephanie Roche, James Rodriguez and Robin van Persie have seen their brilliant efforts nominated for the Puskas Award for the best goal of 2014.