Football Empire

   FC Barcelona trio Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Lionel Messi have been announced as the nominees for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or award to be presented in Zurich on January 10th.

   The prize is the result of the merger between the former FIFA World Player of the Year honour and the Ballon d'Or for European footballer of the year. At a ceremony in Paris, FIFA World Cup-winning Spain midfielders Xavi and Iniesta, plus Argentina forward Messi, the 2009 winner of both previous awards, were revealed as the three players in the running.

   The magnificent trio received the most votes from a poll of captains and head coaches of men's and women's national teams and international media representatives selected by France Football magazine.