Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer will go head-to-head for the Ballon d'Or - the award for best footballer in the world - at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on Monday night.
As ever, it will be a star-studded gala event, celebrating the achievements of the great and the good in the game during 2014.
Join us for all the build-up to the glittering main event throughout the day and then coverage of the ceremony itself from 5.30pm.
- Adam ShergoldHost commentator
PICTURE: Fans already assembling in Zurich
Early arrivals gather near the red carpet outside the Kongresshaus in Zurich
11:57
Does Robin van Persie think he's won the Puskas Award already?
11:55
Guardiola: Neuer is already a winner
Pep Guardiola believes his goalkeeper Manuel Neuer should be proud of himself regardless of whether he claims the Ballon d'Or in Zurich this evening.
The Bayern Munich manager said Neuer was 'already a winner' as he waved him off at the club's winter training camp in Doha, Qatar.
Quoted on the club's official website, Guardiola said: 'Manu is already a winner. It's already a great victory when they invite you to fly to Zurich.
'My advice to Manuel is the same I gave Franck [Ribery] a year ago: go there and enjoy yourself. Don't bother thinking about whether you'll win or not.
'If you win it's good, and if not, that's good too. Manu should be very proud of himself because it's a massive achievement to be one of the best three players in the world.'
Pep Guardiola in a training session during Bayern Munich's training camp in Doha
11:46
Stephanie Roche will go head-to-head with James Rodriguez and Robin van Persie on Monday evening as she aims to win the prestigious Puskas Award for best goal.
The Republic of Ireland women's international's stunning volley for Peamount United against Wexford in October 2013 has made a shortlist of three at the FIFA Ballon d'Or ceremony.
Her brilliant effort will be up against two goals from the World Cup in Brazil - Rodriguez's fine volley for Colombia against Uruguay and Van Persie's diving header in Holland's defeat of Spain.
Stephanie Roche poses with a self-portrait after her nomination for the Puskas Award at the FIFA Ballon d'Or ceremony
Kate Abdo in rehearsals for the Ballon d'Or ceremony
Regular viewers of Sky Sports News will already know her well and now Kate Abdo is set to win more fans the world over when she presents the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich tonight.
The 33-yera-old is perfectly placed to host such an international event, being fluent in German, English, French and Spanish.
11:29
Spanish papers tip Ronaldo for victory
The Spanish sports dailies believe Cristiano Ronaldo is the hot favourite to claim the Ballon d'Or in Zurich.
As feature Ronaldo with his girlfriend Irina Shayk on their front cover and pronounce him the 'clear favourite' - at least according to the bookmakers.
Marca run the front page headline 'League of Gold' reflecting the nominations for Ronaldo and Messi for the main award.
The Spanish sports daily AS said Ronaldo was the favourite to win the award
Both Ronaldo and Messi featured on the front cover of Marca
11:10
'The greatest individual feat in football in 2014 was Cristiano Ronaldo’s 17 Champions League goal-haul that smashed the scoring record for one season in the competition and helped Real Madrid finally land the their 10th European Cup.
'For so long Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 12 goal-campaign for Manchester United in 2003 had set the bar but then first Messi with 15 and Ronaldo with 17 took the standard to new levels.
'Ronaldo did so in a year when Real Madrid finally became the first side in football to win 10 European Cups. He did it when the pressure and expectation were on him and that’s why the Portuguese should win the Ballon d’Or.'
PETE JENSON argues why the Real Madrid and Portugal superstar should be crowned the world's best player.
Cristiano Ronaldo is hoping to win the Ballon d'Or for a second consecutive year
11:05
Jerome Boateng is backing Bayern team-mate Neuer
Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng gave his backing to team-mate Neuer with this post on his Instagram page. It was accompanied by the hashtag #NeuerforBallond'Or
10:55
'I believe that Manuel Neuer should win the Ballon d'Or on Monday night. No wait, do bear with me.
'The nomination of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for this world player award was as inevitable as night following day, with the rest challenging for just one place.
'And, in my view, it was fitting that Neuer, goalkeeper for Bayern Munich and Germany, should take it following a quite exceptional year that saw him establish himself as the undisputed No 1 of No 1s and conquer the world.'
ADAM SHERGOLD argues why the Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper should be crowned the world's best player.
Manuel Neuer looms large as he adjusts his gloves during Bayern Munich's match with Borussia Dortmund
10:51
Messi and Iniesta get ready for the Ballon d'Or
Barcelona have posted a good luck message to their stars Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta on their Instagram account. The pair look casual, wearing grey hoodies and jeans, as they travel to Zurich for ther main event this evening.
10:42
‘Lionel Messi broke another record yesterday...’
How many times have those words been written, read, or dropped into conversation since the great Messi won his first Ballon d’Or six years ago?
Here, KIERAN GILL argues why the Barcelona and Argentina superstar should be crowned the world's best player.
Messi received an award ahead of Barcelona's match with Atletico Madrid on Sunday night for breaking the all-time La Liga scoring record
10:38
Real Madrid give their Ballon d'Or backing to Cristiano
10:26
SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR MARTIN SAMUEL: Gareth Bale was booed on Saturday night for not passing to Cristiano Ronaldo. Real Madrid beat Espanyol 3-0 but still the fans were not happy.
Ronaldo didn’t exactly hide his displeasure, either. He never does. Arms stretched wide in the universal gesture of annoyance, he shouted a swear word at the top of his voice, clearly visible on camera.
If only he could be more like Lionel Messi. The pair go head to head for the Ballon d’Or again tonight, along with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. It is another chance to compare and contrast.
Messi, the good fellow, the humble hero. Shy, modest, the ultimate team player. Ronaldo, the villain, the strutting peacock, all glowers and sneers at every misplaced pass. We love this image of Messi, wearing his genius lightly.
‘When I retire, I want to be remembered for being a decent guy,’ he says.
10:18
On their way: Neuer and Robben fly in
Bayern Munich duo Manuel Neuer and Arjen Robben will arrive at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in style, having flown in by private jet from the German club's winter training base in Doha, Qatar. Neuer is up for the top award of course, while Robben is a candidate for the World Team of the Year.
The Ballon d'Or: Celebrating the best footballers in the world
Good Morning and welcome to our live coverage of the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2014 in Zurich. The great and the good of the game will gather this evening to see who out of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer will be crowned the world's best player.
All three have a strong case. Ronaldo, who won the accolade this time last year, helped Real Madrid to their long-awaited 10th European Cup triumph and went on a goal-scoring spree during the club's extraordinary 22-match winning run.
Messi helped Argentina to the World Cup final in the backyard of their oldest rivals, Brazil, producing some mesmerising performances and scoring vital goals. For Barcelona, he established new goalscoring records in La Liga and the Champions League.
Goalkeeper Neuer played an integral role as Germany won the World Cup for the fourth time in the summer, also establishing himself as the undisputed No 1 of No 1s as he helped Bayern Munich maintain their dominance of German football.
We will also have awards for World Coach of the Year, the Puskas Award for Goal of the Year, the FIFA FIFPro World XI and much, much more.
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