SPORTS

Messi, Ronaldo, up for FIFA player of the year but not Christine Sinclair

The Associated Press Published Thursday, November 29, 2012 9:51AM EST

Barcelona's Lionel Messi eyes the ball during a Champions League Group G soccer match against Spartak Moscow at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)

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SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo are the finalists for FIFA's male player of the year.

But Canadian captain Christine Sinclair did not make the women's shortlist.

The women's final three consists of Americans Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan and Brazil's Marta, a five-time winner.

The winners of the FIFA Ballon d'Or will be announced Jan. 7 in Zurich.

The men's finalists were picked from a list of 23 candidates, with Messi looking to become the first player to win the award four times. The Argentina playmaker won the award last three years.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque, former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho were in the running for the world coach of the year award.