FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi Lead 23 Candidates for Prestigious Award

By Paul John Rivera First Posted: Oct 28, 2014 05:23 PM EDT

FIFA released the names of the 23 candidates for the 2014 Ballon d'Or on Tuesday, led by current holder Cristiano Ronaldo and four-time winner Lionel Messi.

Messi, who won the award from 2009 to 2012, and Ronaldo, the 2008 and 2013 winner, are expected to be the favorites to be named as the world's top player after playing very well for their respective teams.

Messi led Barcelona to a second-place finish in Spanish La Liga last season, while also helping Argentina finish second to Germany during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Ronaldo, on the other hand, led Real Madrid to UEFA Champions League triumph earlier this year.

All candidates are playing club football in Europe, featuring 17 Europeans, five South Americans and one African. Six players from Germany made it into the list after their World Cup success.

UEFA president Michel Platini said in a recent interview that a player from Germany should win the award this year over Ronaldo and Messi.

"I don't vote for the Ballon d'Or, but in principle, it's a player who has produced big performances in the tournament who wins it so it should be a German this year," Platini said via Goal.

Curiously, Luis Suarez was not included on the list. The Barcelona striker could have been a strong candidate to win the award after being named as the Barclays Premier League Player of the Year and winning the European Golden Ball award after his performance with Liverpool last season.

However, France Football magazine correspondent Philippe Auclair told CNN that the Uruguay international did not qualify after he was banned for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during their 2014 World Cup match.

"The criteria used for the selection of the long list of Ballon d'Or contenders by France Football and FIFA are very clear," Auclair said. "A player who has disgraced himself on the pitch as Suarez has, cannot and will not be included, regardless of his achievements throughout the calendar year."

FIFA Football Committee and France Football Magazine will trim the list to three candidates on Dec. 1 before the naming the winning in a ceremony on Jan. 12 in Zurich. Below is the list of 23 candidates for the award via ESPN FC.