Bayern Munich

Manuel Neuer: 'Ballon d'Or nod for goalkeeper is special'

By Sam McEvoy, Reporter | 06 December 2014

Manuel Neuer says that it is "special" for a goalkeeper to be recognised among the best in the world and it is much harder for keepers to win the award.

Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has said that it is "special" for a player of his position to be recognised for the Ballon d'Or and is much harder for keepers to pick up individual awards.

The former Schalke 04 shot-stopper is shortlisted alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the favourites to win the accolade, and Neuer could be only the second goalkeeper to receive the award.

The 28-year-old believes that players like Ronaldo and Messi have an huge advantage over goalkeepers when it comes to winning the top prize, as both forwards have scored more than 100 goals between them.

"As a goalkeeper, it is something quite special. To reach [the last three] makes me very proud," Neuer said, according to Goal.com.

"Here you can see how hard it is for a goalkeeper. What's mostly left after a match? The scenes in front of the goal where the attackers are the highlights of the play but doing the spectacular is not particularly important to me. I just want to play for my team."

The Germany international capped a successful season with Bayern Munich by winning the World Cup in the summer, with many arguing that a World Cup winner should win the Ballon d'Or.