Ballon d'Or 2013: Lionel Messi seeks hi-five, Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite and Franck Ribery the dark horse

On Monday as FIFA announced a three-man list for the Ballon d'Or 2013 with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo who always seem along with Franck Ribery few football fans were surprised.

Lionel Messi who has won the last four Ballon d'Or is seeking his fifth this year. But the bookies and fans are putting their money this year on Portuguese and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo to walk away with football's biggest prize.

The logic why Ronaldo is a favourite this year is simple, with 32 goals this year for his country and club, the 28-year-old football star is in awesome touch. Messi on the other hand has been forced to sit at home with a hamstring injury.

Watch Messi in action before his injury

With his hat-trick against Sweden last month that helped Portugal win 3-2 as well as make the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo has endeared himself to many of his critics as well as his fans.

Watch Ronaldo score the hat-trick that could land him the Ballon d'Or

Franck Ribery is the dark horse, the mark outsider in the list but his feat in the Champions League that helped Bayern Munich win could prove to propel his cause. His 2 goals at Bremen in his teams 7-0 mauling of the home team also added to Ribery's cause.

Watch Ribery's football prowess

The winner of the Ballon d'Or will be revealed at an award ceremony in Zurich on January 13, 2014.

Till then now that the nominees are known the speculation will continue as fans and critics rally around their favourite football star.