Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the last eight world’s best player awards that were given out.
And once again, the duo will go head-to-head along with Antoine Griezmann – who finished as Euro 2016 top scorer – for the 2016 FIFA Best Player award.
READ: Vardy, Pogba, Ronaldo, Messi make 2016 Ballon d’Or 30-man shortlist
The award this year is being organised solely by FIFA, following the ending of a six-year association with the French magazine France Football for the FIFA Ballon d’Or award.
Five-time world’s best player winner Messi was exceptional as Barcelona won the 2015-16 La Liga title, but missed a penalty as Argentina lost the 2016 Copa America final to Chile 2-4 on penalties in front of 82,000 spectators at the MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
READ: FIFA announces new award to rival Ballon d’Or
Ronaldo on his part has been favoured to win this year’s award having scored 51 goals during the 2015/16 season. The Portuguese star also won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, and the European Championship with Portugal.
Meanwhile, the shortlist for the women’s award comprises Carli Lloyd (U.S.), Marta (Brazil) and Melanie Behringer (Germany).
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri, and Portugal national team coach Fernando Santos are up for the Coach of the Year award.
The ceremony will hold in Zurich, Switzerland on January 9.