While making Messi his top pick, Handanović selected Ronaldo in second place and Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez in third place in the annual vote held by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).

Stojanović selected Messi in second place, while also picking Xavi in third, official voting results show.

Like Stojanović, legendary Slovenian commentator Andrej Stare picked Ronaldo ahead of Messi in the Ballon d'Or voting. Stare went for legendary Italian captain Andrea Pirlo (Juventus) in third place.

Messi won with 41.6% of the votes, ahead of Ronaldo with 23.68% and Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta with 10.91%.

In the Coach of the Year voting, Handanović picked former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, Stojanović selected Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, while Stare chose the eventual winner, Spanish national team coach Vicente del Bosque.