Barcelona players to skip Best FIFA Awards gala

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu will lead the club's delegation at Monday's Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, and won't be accompanied by any of its players.

Lionel Messi, a nominee for Men's Player of the Year, and his teammates will not be attendance after the Catalonian outfit confirmed they will be busy undergoing preparations for Wednesday's Copa del Rey Round of 16 visit from Athletic Bilbao, where Barcelona has to overturn a one-goal aggregate deficit.

Numerous members of the squad could also be under consideration for the FIFPro World XI, a starting lineup chosen of 2016's most spectacular players. The Sun's Fred Nathan understands that prize will feature a snub for Neymar, despite the 24-year-old capturing the double with Barcelona and inspiring Brazil to glory at Rio 2016.

It could be an award-laden evening for Barca's archrival Real Madrid, however, with Cristiano Ronaldo a strong favourite to collect the Player of the Year gong, and manager Zinedine Zidane in the running for Coach of the Year.