体坛英语新闻：FIFA 2012 Golden Ball finalists to be named in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Football's governing body FIFA revealed on Monday the finalists for the 2012 Golden Ball award will be announced in Brazil in November.

The nominations will be made on November 29 in Sao Paulo during an event which will also feature the release of the 2013 Confederations Cup draw, Uol reported.

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is aiming to be the first player to win the the award four consecutive times while Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, the 2008 winner, is also expected to be among the three finalists.

The winner will be announced at a gala event in January next year.

The Confederations Cup, to be played in Brazil next June, is considered an organizational warm-up event for the 2014 World Cup.

It will feature host Brazil plus continental champions Spain, Uruguay, Japan, Mexico, Tahiti and the winner of the Africa Cup of Nations to be played in February.

European runner-up Italy also earned a berth by virtue of Spain's automatic qualification as the reigning World Cup champion.