Ballon d´Or set to be decided

One of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi will bring the 2010 Ballon d’Or to Barcelona when the winner is revealed on Monday.

The trio are the shortlisted players for the FIFA-awarded honour, with Messi looking to win the award for the second year running.

The Ballon d’Or will combine FIFA’s Player of the Year award and France Football magazine’s long-running individual honour for the first time this year.

The merger of the two awards means an increased voting panel, with selected journalists joining the coaches and captains of national teams who previously chose the FIFA award.

It is guaranteed to head to the Spanish champions when the winner is announced in Zurich, with all three of the nominees plying their trade at Camp Nou.

Messi, the winner in 2010, was in stunning form last season for Barcelona.

Xavi was an instrumental member of the Spain side that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, as was Iniesta, who notched the winning goal in the final.

History may count in the Spaniards’ favour, with the last three awards after World Cup years all going to players who made a vital contribution to their national team’s triumph on the world stage.

Monday’s ceremony will also see the naming of the manager of the year, with Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola, Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho and Spain’s World Cup-winning coach Vicente del Bosque in contention.