Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer finalists for 2014 Ballon d'Or

The three players vying for football's most coveted individual award have been revealed, and the nominees should leave everyone nodding their heads in collective agreement.

Ronaldo, who has redefined what it means to be a world class goalscorer in 2014, is looking to capture the award for a second consecutive year - and third overal, having also claimed it in 2008. 

Despite a disappointing World Cup where he was hampered by a nagging knee injury - and with the tournament always playing a major role in the awarding of this title (see: Cannavaro, Fabio) - Real Madrid's destroyer of worlds is the consensus favorite. Scoring 33 league goals in the calendar year and leading your club to a historic Champions League title by setting the single-season scoring record in the competition will do that for you.

Messi, meanwhile, already has four such trophies to his name, being bestowed with the honor from 2009-2012. His ability to almost single-handedly lead Argentina to World Cup glory will sway some voters, as will the two scoring records he set in the past month, but it would be considered a slight surprise if the Barcelona wizard won the hardware.

And then there's Neuer.

A popular choice for many who have long argued against the lack of attention and plaudits afforded to goalkeepers, the German colossus has done his best to redefine the position in the past year.

Helping Germany to the World Cup title with both his shot-stopping ability and willingness to play the ball with his feet, the Bayern Munich star is certainly deserving of recognition. That said, given his positional disadvantage, it would come as a surprise of gargantuan proportions should he pip the aforementioned duo to the honor.