The goalkeeper who won the World Cup is challenging Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or.

While the annual prize for soccer's best player has switched between the world's top scorers since 2008, Manuel Neuer of Germany is the first goalkeeper to make the Ballon d'Or top three since 2006.

Ronaldo won the 2013 honor, ending Argentina forward Messi's three-year run since FIFA and France Football magazine merged their awards.