Betting tips / Michael Lintorn / 06 December 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

With Messi, Ronaldo and Hernandez comprising the shortlist for the top individual award in world soccer, it appears that the Ballon d'Or will stay in Spain yet again.

The Argentine star is tipped to become the second player in history to claim the honour three times in a row, following in the footsteps of UEFA president Michel Platini.

Despite more international disappointment with Argentina in the Copa America that they hosted this summer, Messi has enjoyed another trophy-littered 12 months, lifting La Liga and the Champions League.

The 24-year-old was top goalscorer in the latter competition for the third season in succession, a feat never previously achieved outright, and after a strong start to the current campaign is [1.73] to do it all again.

His latest opportunity to boost his tally occurs against BATE Borisov on Tuesday night.

Messi's struggle to replicate that form when representing his country is often viewed as evidence that it is tougher to thrive without the support of Xavi that he enjoys at Barcelona, however the midfielder finished third in 2009 and 2010 and is likely to once more.

Ronaldo is level with Messi at the top of the La Liga scoring charts, outdid him last term, and is [1.99] to do so again, but his inability to match his rival's accomplishments in Europe looks set to see him miss out on the Ballon d'Or, which he won in 2008.

There hasn't been much reaction to the unveiling of the final three because it was fairly predictable, though Zlatan Ibrahimovic stated on Monday that he doesn't need to be recognised because "in my head, I am the strongest of them all".

His recent domestic form has been superb, yet the Swede is regularly accused of failing to deliver in Europe, so the fact that he has scored in his last four Champions League games [he's [20.0] to top score] bodes well for his prospects of challenging in 2012.