Messi, Ronaldo, Griezmann up for FIFA player award

​Antoine Griezmann is the new challenger to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for FIFA's annual player award.

FIFA named the France forward on a three-man shortlist Friday for the rebranded Best Player Award. All three candidates play for Spanish clubs.

Canadian coach John Herdman and captain Christine Sinclair were shut out of the shortlists for FIFA's annual awards Friday.

Both were in the original list of 10 candidates for female coach and player of the year, respectively.

Messi and Ronaldo have split the FIFA honour over the past eight seasons, and placed 1-2 in seven of those years.

Ronaldo won his third award in January. Messi has it won five times.

Greizmann's teams, France and Atletico Madrid, were beaten by Ronaldo's Portugal and Real Madrid in the finals of the European Championship and Champions League.

Voting is by national team captains and coaches, selected journalists and — for the first time — an online poll of fans. Each category counts for 25 per cent of the total.

The winner will be announced on Jan. 9 at FIFA's annual awards ceremony in Zurich.

Griezmann is looking to avoid joining an illustrious club of players who finished third behind Messi and Ronaldo. It currently includes: Neymar, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Franck Ribery, Manuel Neuer and Fernando Torres.

Coaches Zidane, Santos, Ranieri on shortlist

Ronaldo's club and country coaches — Zinedine Zidane and Fernando Santos — are on the shortlist for the men's coaching award.

Claudio Ranieri is also on the list after leading Leicester to a surprise Premier League title.

Germany's Olympic title-winning team is in contention for the women's player and coach awards.

Under Herdman, Canada moved up to No. 4 in the world rankings, won the Algarve Cup and a record 15 games for a Canadian women's team.

Midfielder Melanie Behringer is challenging two past winners, defending champion Carli Lloyd of the United States and five-time winner Marta of Brazil.

All three candidates have played more than 100 times for their country, as has Sinclair, who helped Canada to bronze at the Rio Olympics this summer.

The star forward from Burnaby, B.C., was named NWSL player of the Olympics. Sinclair, who has been nominated for world player of the year eight times, scored seven goals for Canada in 2016 to up her career total to 165, tops among active players.

All three coaching candidates are previous FIFA award winners: Silvia Neid of Germany, Jill Ellis of the United States and Pia Sundhage of Sweden.

Puskas Award

Three goals were shortlisted for the Puskas Award, voted for by fans online: Marlone (for Corinthians vs. Cobresal, Copa Libertadores); Daniuska Rodriguez (for Venezuela vs. Colombia, South American Women's Under-17 Championship); Mohd Faiz Subri (for Penang vs. Pahang, Malaysia Super League).

FIFA will also present a Fan Award and Fair Play Award.

The ceremony was rebranded after FIFA's six-year partnership ended with France Football magazine, which retained the rights to the Ballon d'Or name and player award.