Fifa president Sepp Blatter speaks following the announcement of nominees for this year's Ballon d'Or award: "Fans of football everywhere look forward to this moment every year when we discover which woman and man will be awarded the biggest individual prize in football.

"This year we have been lucky and we will find out in January which player will win the Ballon d'Or and as we prepare for the women's World Cup in Canada, we will see who is meeting their peak.

"It is an opportunity to allow the next generation to dream. Good luck to all the nominees and thank you to all the players, coaches and fans for another very special year in football."

Image source, Fifa

The shortlist has also been confirmed for the Fifa Women's World Player of the Year., external

Germany midfielder Nadine Kessler, all-time leading USA goalscorer Abby Wambach and Brazilian Marta are the three names to make the shortlist.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer are named as the final nominees for the 2014 Ballon d'Or.

Real Madrid's Ronaldo, 29, has 28 goals in 22 appearances this season while his rval at Barcelona Lionel Messi has 43 goals in 50 outings so far in 2014.

Neuer, 28, won the German league title, cup and World Cup this year.

Image source, Fifa

The final nominees for the Ferenc Puskas Award - given to the best goal scored this year are named as Stephanie Roche, James Rodriguez and Robin van Persie.

Rodriguez hit a stunning volley for Colombia against Uruguay at the World Cup, Van Persie converted an incredible diving header for Netherlands against Spain in the same tournament, while Roche created space and smashed a superb volley home for Peamount United in Ireland.

Image source, PA

A quick update from the third round at the York Barbican where John Higgins has beaten Matthew Stevens 6-2.

Other latest scores in the best-of-11 frames contests are:

David Gilbert (Eng) 2-4 David Morris (Ire)

Fraser Patrick (Sco) 2-5 Judd Trump (Eng)

Nigel Bond (Eng) 4-2 Anthony McGill (Sco)

You can follow all the action on our live page or on BBC Two.

For those of you clinging on to the edge of your seat, Fifa are currently running through the 23-men still with hope of winning the 2014 Ballon d'Or.

There is some empowering music to back images of the big names but we wait eagerly for the list to be cut to three.

Pundits Christian Karambeu and former England women's manager Hope Powell are giving their take on it all, but the classic "it's so hard to pick" line is being trotted out more frequently than a horse at Aintree.

The Ballon d'Or - formerly the Fifa World Player of the Year award - has featured Lionel Messi in either first or second place in each of the last seven years.

The Barcelona striker, 27, won the honour in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

As you can see, he usually opts for a demure suit choice for the ceremony.

Image source, Reuters

The Daily Express reports, external Germany midfielder Marco Reus looks set for a move to the Premier League next summer after his agent denied the Borussia Dortmund star has already held talks with Bayern Munich.

That move has reportedly alerted Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea to his availability.

Fifa will announce which three players from their 23-man shortlist will contest the Balln d'Or shortly.

A few famous sporting names celebrating birthdays today:

Lee Trevino (75, golf) - Won the Open in 1971 and 1972 as well as the US Open twice, born 1939.

Neil Warnock (66, football) - Crystal Palace manager.

Salvatore 'Toto' Schillaci (50, football) - Former Italy striker who won the 1990 World Cup Golden Boot, born 1964.

Image source, Getty Images

Kenny Milne (53, rugby union) - Former Scotland hooker.

Arjuna Ranatunga (51, cricket) - Captain of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning team.

A quick update on the latest third round scores from the York Barbican.

David Gilbert (Eng) 1-4 David Morris (Ire)

John Higgins (Sco) 5-1 Matthew Stevens (Wal)

Fraser Patrick (Sco) 2-4 Judd Trump (Eng)

Nigel Bond (Eng) 4-1 Anthony McGill (Sco)

Third round matches are the best of 11 frames.

You can follow all the action through our live page with a choice of three live streams or on BBC Two.

Image source, Getty Images

We told you earlier how a distinctly unhappy Ronnie O'Sullivan has criticised the 'shocking' standard of the tables and the format at the UK Championship in York.

Now Jason Ferguson, chairman of the WPBSA, has been on BBC Two to respond.

On the issue of the tables, Ferguson said: "We take players' concerns very, very seriously, and particularly when we're talking about playing conditions.

"I can tell you that all the tables were recovered last night, through the night. Table-fitters have worked round the clock and that will make a big difference to the cushion bounces that people are talking about."

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard may well have been offered a new contract at the club but a role of less prominence in the starting XI could be on the horizon.

Image source, Getty Images

In his news conference before the trip to Leicester City, manager Brendan Rodgers said: "He's at the stage of his career where it's not so much the number of games he plays now, it's about the level of the game.

"No matter how good a player has been, once they're coming towards those final years of their career, then of course as a manager, you're having to taper that in where you think you can get the best out of the player."

Gerrard has played 18 games this season but was named as a substitute in Saturday's win over Stoke.

Fifa will today slice their 23-man Ballon d'Or shortlist down to just three names. The list will surely contain Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but who else do you think will be on there?

Ross:, external Neuer, Ronaldo and Robben. With Ronaldo winning of course.

Cameron Mahon:, external I believe it will be Neuer; have to have a world cup winner there and he deserves it.

Tweet us on #bbcsportsday or comment on the Match of the Day Facebook page., external

Nigel Pearson confirms striker David Nugent is a doubt for the visit of Liverpool with a sore ankle and will be assessed before the game.

He has no other injury worries.

Image source, Getty Images

More from Leicester manager Nigel Pearson, whose side are bottom of the Premier League: "I want us to still be as creative as we were on Saturday (against QPR).

"We need to take chances and that remains a frustration.

"I'm very confident that these players can turn the situation around in terms of results."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says Uefa's Financial Fair Play rules have put the Blues at a disadvantage against long-standing top clubs.

Image source, Getty Images

The rules, which aim to prevent professional football clubs spending more than they earn, are a "contradiction" according to Mourinho.

"What happened really with the Financial Fair Play is a big protection to the historical, old, big clubs, which have a financial structure, a commercial structure, everything in place based on historical success for years and years and years," Mourinho, 51, told Eurosport-Yahoo.

Mourinho sold players such as Romelu Lukaku and David Luiz this summer in order to make purchases and balance Chelsea's books.

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson on the challenge of facing Liverpool: "It's a big game against a big club who had a superb season last season.

"The players are up for it and we're a very tight unit."

Image source, PA

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has been speaking before Tuesday's home match against Liverpool.

He starts by reflecting on the disappointment of Saturday's 3-2 defeat by QPR.

"We're in a situation we don't want to be in," he said.

"The bottom line is we lost to QPR and we need to respond pretty sharpish."

Baggies boss Alan Irvine says he was "hurt, stung and taken aback" by the home fans' reaction to Stephane Sessegnon being replaced by Georgios Samaras in Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Arsenal, BBC WM's Rob Gurney reports.

The Albion head coach, whose team have suffered three straight defeats, pointed out his side completed more than 400 passes against Arsenal and had more entries into the final third.

Irvine, who has James Morrison back in training again after illness, adds that he does not think there will be a big January transfer shake-up at The Hawthorns.