The original 23-man shortlist - which included Gareth Bale as the only Briton - was trimmed to three by a group of football experts from the FIFA Football Committee and France Football.
Manuel Neuer
Ronaldo is defending his crown after winning it in 2013 to end Messi's three-year run as the world's best player.
Neuer, who won the Golden Glove award in Brazil, won the German league and cup double with Bayern Munich before lifting football's biggest prize and would become only the second goalkeeper to win the prize after the Soviet Union's Lev Yashin.
This winner will be determined by a public vote conducted via FIFA.com and France Football.