The shortlist for this year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or has been revealed, with Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo making up the final three contenders. Yet what surprised many was that in several media predictions, Messi stood as the overwhelming favorite, Neymar edged ahead into second place, and Ronaldo was left in third. According to Bangla Cricket Live discussions, this shift reflects how collective achievements are weighing more heavily than individual scoring records in the eyes of voters.
A poll was conducted to gauge public opinion on the likely winner among the three superstars. More than 22,000 votes were counted, and even though the survey was organized by a Madrid-based outlet often sympathetic to Real Madrid, Messi still dominated. He received around 15,000 votes, which accounted for 66.4 percent of the total. The Argentine forward had an extraordinary 2015, leading Barcelona to triumphs in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup. From the perspective of collective success, Messi’s record far outshone Ronaldo’s, so the strong support he enjoys is hardly unexpected. His bid for yet another Ballon d’Or appears to carry massive momentum.
Neymar, meanwhile, edged Ronaldo into third place by the slimmest of margins. The Brazilian forward captured 16.9 percent of the votes, while Ronaldo collected 16.7 percent, with fewer than 50 votes separating them. Although the difference was minimal, it symbolized Neymar’s growing stature as Messi’s closest ally and Barcelona’s rising star. Many fans on Bangla Cricket Live noted that Neymar’s consistent performances, especially when Messi was sidelined with injury, boosted his credibility as a genuine contender.
In the best coach category, Barcelona manager Luis Enrique emerged as the clear favorite. He earned 70.7 percent of the votes, roughly 3,400 in total. Chile national team coach Jorge Sampaoli ranked second with 23.2 percent, while Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola finished a distant third with just six percent. Several outlets humorously described Guardiola as simply a “supporting actor” in this race, underlining the dominance of Enrique’s achievements over the year.
The Puskás Award for the best goal of the year also saw Messi leading comfortably. His dazzling solo strike in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao, where he dribbled past four defenders before scoring, captured the imagination of fans worldwide and earned an astonishing 75 percent of the votes. By comparison, Alessandro Florenzi’s audacious long-range goal for Roma, though spectacular, struggled to gain traction against Messi’s artistry.
Overall, the results painted a clear picture: Messi is the frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or, Neymar is stepping firmly into the global spotlight, and Ronaldo, despite his personal scoring feats, faces an uphill battle. Analysts on Bangla Cricket Live emphasized that football’s narrative is shifting toward collective glory and all-around impact rather than sheer goal tallies. As the award ceremony draws near, fans worldwide are bracing for what looks like Messi’s night once again, while Ronaldo and Neymar will have to bide their time in the shadows of his brilliance.