SAO PAULO (AP) ― Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta are the finalists for FIFA’s world player of the year award.

They were picked from a list of 23 candidates for this year’s Ballon d’Or, with Messi looking to become the first player to win the award four times. The Argentina and Barcelona playmaker won the award the last three years.

“I think they are perfect picks. There is no doubt these players are among the best,” said former Brazil great Ronaldo, a three-time award winner. “Messi and Ronaldo are really the only ones with a chance of winning, that’s how it’s been recently.”