FIFA POY Awards: Why Cristiano Ronaldo Will Never Win Another Golden Ball Award

Cristiano Ronaldo should cherish the Golden Ball award he won in 2008, because it is the only one he will ever get.

He is now relegated to a futile chase of Lionel Messi for the title of world's best player.

Ronaldo, Messi and Xavi are this year's three finalists for the the Ballon d'Or, which has now merged with FIFA's player of the year award, to determine the game's best.

The finalists were announced on Monday, and Ronaldo was quick to tweet that it was an honor just to be nominated.

It is good that Ronaldo receives joy from the nomination because because he is headed for disappointment when the winner is announced on Jan. 9 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Only Two Finalists Needed

Ronaldo has made this year's decision close. He is playing the best football of his career, and it is clear that this is really a race between two men. And it will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

Both players stand head and shoulders above the competition.

2011 Resume

Ronaldo broke the Spanish league scoring record with 40 goals last season, including 11 in his last four games. That was nine more goals than the Barca stirker.

However, Messi set up more goals than Ronaldo, and he also walked away with more hardware.

Messi and his Barcelona teammates captured the Champions League and Spanish league titles. Ronaldo's greatest achievement was a Spanish Cup title.

Not surprisingly, Messi scored in Barca's win over Manchester United in the Champions League Final, and Ronaldo scored in the Spanish Cup final. 

This season the two are going tit-for-tat in scoring. They both have 17 league goals.

Why Ronaldo Will Never Win

Messi has age and the club on his side. Lionel is 24. Ronaldo is 26. The gap is a modest difference, but given that the younger player is already more proficient it does not bode well for the older player. 

What is also going to keep Ronaldo behind Messi is the fact that Barcelona is set to be the dominant team for years. This will keep Barcelona's star succeeding on the world's biggest stages, and give him the opportunity to flash his skills in the moments that matter, and are remembered, most.

The last piece, and perhaps the most important, is that while both of these young men are fabulous goal scorers, Messi has the edge as a table setter.

He can thrive by scoring, or by allowing others to score. This helps ensure the greatness of his club, and will keep the recognition showering his way.